Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday revealed her close relationship with Cabinet colleague Parvesh Verma, saying that their relationship was like that of a brother and sister. Verma, the son of former Delhi Chief Minister, late Sahib Singh Verma, was standing by her side as she made the statement.
Stressing that the chief minister's post was secondary to their common task, Gupta vowed to cooperate hand-in-hand with Verma to achieve the dream of the late BJP stalwart for the capital.
Addressing Sahib Singh Verma's memorial in Mundka on his 82nd birth anniversary, Gupta said the positions could have been swapped—Verma as chief minister and she as a minister—and her dedication would not have changed.
"Elder sisters are given chores first in Indian society," said Gupta, suggesting that she did appreciate the notion that in this case, the "sister" occupied the chief ministerial chair and the "brother" occupied a ministerial portfolio.
BJP's victory in the February 5 Assembly polls brought an end to Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) decade of rule, with the party returning to power in Delhi after a period of over 26 years.
After the declaration of results on February 8, Parvesh Verma was a top favorite for the chief ministerial seat in the general buzz. But Gupta, putting an end to these speculations, reaffirmed her familial relationship with Verma and emphasized that they would collaborate for the betterment of Delhi.
She also praised the late Sahib Singh Verma for his immense contributions towards the development of the city and vowed to follow in his footsteps. "We will go forward like brothers to finish the remaining work of Sahib Singh Verma," she said, describing him as a source of inspiration in her political and personal life.
Recalling a personal experience, Gupta mentioned that when she was elected president of the Delhi University Students Union (DUSU), Sahib Singh Verma, the then-chief minister, had personally called her to congratulate and motivate her.
Parvesh Verma, looking back on his father's vision, placed stress on long-term growth. "Our aim is to adopt schemes that will serve the next five years, but more importantly the next 50 years," he stated.
Sahib Singh Verma, born on March 15, 1943, in Mundka village, served as Delhi’s fourth chief minister from February 27, 1996, to October 12, 1998. He passed away on June 30, 2007, at the age of 64.
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