New Delhi: Leader of Opposition (LoP) Atishi, along with AAP MLAs, staged a protest outside the office of Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday, demanding the immediate implementation of the BJP’s election promise to provide ₹2,500 to women in the city. The protest occurred as the first session of the newly constituted Delhi Assembly commenced, marking the return of the BJP to power after 26 years. Atishi stated that despite requesting a meeting with the chief minister two days prior, they were not granted an audience. Speaking to reporters, she accused the BJP of failing to uphold Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guarantee, which pledged financial support for women after the first Cabinet meeting.

Following a brief interaction with CM Rekha Gupta, Atishi revealed that the chief minister had not provided any concrete assurance but had mentioned that efforts were being made to fulfill the promise by March 8. The protest intensified as AAP leaders expressed their frustration over what they called a delay in delivering a key election commitment. Meanwhile, inside the assembly, BJP MLA Arvinder Singh Lovely was sworn in as the pro-tem Speaker by Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena at the Raj Niwas. As the senior-most legislator, Lovely is responsible for overseeing the oath-taking ceremony of all newly elected MLAs. CM Rekha Gupta was the first to take the oath, followed by her six Cabinet ministers and the remaining legislators. The assembly session began with a rendition of “Vande Mataram,” symbolizing the official start of legislative proceedings under the BJP’s new leadership.

The session is expected to witness heated debates, with AAP gearing up to challenge the BJP’s policies and governance. The election for the new Speaker is scheduled for later in the day, with BJP MLA Vijender Gupta emerging as the frontrunner for the position. The BJP secured a landslide victory in the February 5 Assembly elections, winning 48 out of 70 seats, effectively ending AAP’s decade-long rule in Delhi. With the power shift, BJP members now sit on the right side of the Speaker’s chair, while AAP, having secured 22 seats, occupies the opposition benches. As the political landscape of Delhi undergoes a significant transformation, the capital braces for a new era of governance, with both parties vying to establish their influence over key policy decisions.