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Delhi has witnessed the leadership of three female Chief Ministers in its political history. The first was Sushma Swaraj from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who served a brief term in 1998. She was succeeded by Sheila Dikshit of the Indian National Congress (INC), who held office for 3 consecutive terms from 1998 to 2013, making her the longest-serving CM of Delhi. In 2025, Rekha Gupta has been announced as the new Chief Minister of Delhi. Curious to learn more. Here is everything you need to know about female chief ministers of Delhi, their tenure, and major contributions.
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List of Female Chief Ministers of Delhi
Over the years, Delhi has been led by several female Chief Ministers, each contributing to the city’s governance and development. Here is a list of the female chief ministers of Delhi along with their respective tenure.
| Female Chief Ministers of Delhi | Political Party | Tenure |
| Rekha Gupta | Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) | 20 Feb 2025 – |
| Atishi Marlena (temporary) | Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) | 21 Sep 2024 – 20 Feb 2025 |
| Sheila Dikshit | Indian National Congress (INC) | 29 Oct 2008 – 28 Dec 2013 |
| Sheila Dikshit | Indian National Congress (INC) | 01 Dec 2003 – 29 Oct 2008 |
| Sheila Dikshit | Indian National Congress (INC) | 03 Dec 1998 – 01 Dec 2003 |
| Sushma Swaraj | Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) | 12 Oct 1998 – 03 Dec 1998 |
4. Rekha Gupta
Rekha Gupta is the new Chief Minister of Delhi and a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Born on July 19, 1974, in Haryana, she began her political career as the President of Delhi University Students’ Union (1996-1997). She pursued a Bachelor of Commerce at Delhi University followed by advanced degrees in management and arts. Rekha Gupta later served as a North Delhi mayor and an MLA from Shalimar Bagh. Known for her focus on governance, women’s empowerment, and education, she won the 2025 elections and now leads Delhi’s administration.
| Full Name | Rekha Gupta |
| Born | July 19, 1974 |
| Birthplace | Haryana |
3. Atishi Marlena
Atishi is an Indian politician and social activist associated with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Born on June 8, 1981, she attended St. Stephen’s College and later earned two master’s degrees from Oxford University. She played a key role in improving Delhi’s education system and later held multiple government portfolios. In 2024, she briefly served as Delhi’s Chief Minister after Arvind Kejriwal resigned. However, AAP lost power in the 2025 elections.
| Full Name | Atishi Marlena Singh |
| Born | June 8, 1981 |
| Political Affiliation | Aam Aadmi Party |
2. Sheila Dikshit
Sheila Dikshit was the longest-serving Chief Minister of Delhi, holding office for three consecutive terms from 1998 to 2013. A senior leader of the Indian National Congress, she also served as a Union Minister and represented India at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. Known for her contributions to Delhi’s development, she was honoured as the Best Chief Minister of India in 2008.
| Full Name | Sheila Dikshit |
| Born | 31 March 1938 |
| Birthplace | Kapurthala, Punjab |
| Died | 20 July 2019 |
1. Sushma Swaraj
Sushma Swaraj was the first female Chief Minister of Delhi, serving for a brief period in 1998. A senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), she held several important positions in Indian politics. She was a Member of Parliament multiple times and served as India’s External Affairs Minister (2014–2019). Known for her strong leadership and public service, she was posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2020, one of India’s highest civilian honours.
| Full Name | Sushma Swaraj |
| Born | February 14, 1952 |
| Birthplace | Ambala, Punjab [now in Haryana] |
| Died | August 6, 2019 |
FAQs
The former woman Chief Minister of Delhi was Atishi Marlena. She briefly held the position from September 2024 to February 2025 while Arvind Kejriwal was in jail. Although her tenure was temporary, she played a key role in Delhi’s administration during that time.
Sucheta Kripalani was India’s first woman Chief Minister. She led Uttar Pradesh from 1963 to 1967. A freedom fighter, she played a major role in India’s independence and later worked on improving governance and administration in the state.
The first Chief Minister of Delhi was Chaudhary Brahm Prakash. He served from 1952 to 1955 as a member of the Indian National Congress. His leadership focused on the development of Delhi in its early years as a capital city.
The Chief Minister of Delhi earns a salary of about INR 60,000 per month. The approximate amount after including allowances, the total monthly remuneration can be anywhere around INR 1,25,000 per month.
Raziyya Sultana, also known as Razia Sultan, was the only female ruler of the Delhi Sultanate. She was known for her intelligence, bravery, and administrative skills. She broke societal norms to become a powerful ruler in medieval India.
As of 2025, India has witnessed the reign of 18 female chief ministers. The first female chief minister of India was Sucheta Kripalani, hailing from the Indian National Congress party. Recently, Rekha Gupta has been announced as the 4th woman CM of Delhi.
Interesting Reads
Hope you enjoyed reading this blog on female chief ministers of Delhi. If you want to read blogs on similar topics, make sure to check out the Famous Personalities category by Leverage Edu.
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