From student leaders to rivals: Alka Lamba's 'memorable photo from 1995' of Rekha Gupta

Soon after BJP officially announced Rekha Gupta as the new Chief Minister of Delhi, Congress leader Alka Lamba, who contested against AAP's Atishi from the Kalkaji Assembly seat in this month's elections, extended her congratulations with a nostalgic message.

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Lamba took to social media platform X and shared a post, “This memorable picture from 1995 – when Rekha Gupta and I took the oath together. I won the position of President of Delhi University Students' Union (DUSU) from @nsui, and Rekha won the position of General Secretary from #ABVP. Congratulations and best wishes to Rekha Gupta. Congratulations to Delhi on getting its fourth woman Chief Minister. We, the people of Delhi, expect that #MotherYamuna will be clean and #Daughters will be safe.”

"1995 की यह यादगार तस्वीर - जब मैंने और रेखा गुप्ता ने एक साथ शपथ ग्रहण की थी- मैंने @nsui से दिल्ली विश्वविद्यालय छात्र संघ (DUSU) #अध्यक्ष पद पर जीत हासिल की थी और रेखा ने #ABVP से #महासचिव पद पर जीत हासिल की थी- रेखा गुप्ता को बधाई और शुभकामनाएँ. दिल्ली को चौथी महिला… pic.twitter.com/Fs5CoIndxE

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 19, 2025

Gupta won the Shalimar Bagh seat in the February 5 Assembly elections and will be sworn in as Delhi's fourth woman Chief Minister on Thursday.

Alka Lamba, who had won the DUSU elections in 1995 and became its president from NSUI, and Rekha Gupta, elected as general secretary from ABVP in the same year, were both prominent youth leaders making their mark in Delhi's youth politics at that time.

The picture Lamba shared captures the moment when both young leaders took their oaths as office bearers of DUSU. Now, years later, Rekha Gupta has risen to the top position of Chief Minister.