From Ousted to Speaker: Vijender Gupta’s Poetic Justice in Delhi Assembly

Dramatic images of veteran BJP leader Vijender Gupta being marshalled out of the Delhi Assembly were a common sight during the AAP’s decade-long rule.

Now, with the BJP returning to power in Delhi after 27 years, Gupta has been named the Speaker—an instance of political tables turning.

Interestingly, both former Speaker Ram Niwas Goel and AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal are no longer part of the Assembly.

Gupta, who persevered through the Kejriwal wave in 2015 and 2020, now presides over the very House from which he was once removed.

Political Rise and Legislative Experience

Belonging to the Baniya community, Vijender Gupta has secured the Rohini Assembly seat for three consecutive terms. He defeated AAP’s Pradeep Mittal by over 37,000 votes in the latest election.

Gupta has a long history with the BJP, having served as the president of its Delhi unit and as Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly.

Born on August 14, 1963, Gupta graduated from Shri Ram College of Commerce. He entered politics in 1980 with the Janata Vidyarthi Morcha and later became president of the BJP’s youth wing in 1995.

His first electoral success came in 1997 when he was elected as an MCD councillor.

However, his political journey has had setbacks. In 2009, he lost the Chandni Chowk Lok Sabha election to Congress’s Kapil Sibal, and in 2013, he was defeated by Arvind Kejriwal in the Delhi Assembly elections.

Yet, his influence among traders and grassroots support helped him secure victories in the Rohini constituency in 2015, 2020, and 2025.

Gupta’s Appointment as Speaker

Gupta has now embarked on a new role as the Speaker of the Delhi Assembly. Confirming his nomination, he stated, “I will first of all get the CAG reports that were kept pending by the previous AAP government tabled before the House.”

Previously, Gupta and other BJP MLAs had approached the court, alleging that the AAP government had prevented the tabling of 14 Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports.

With the BJP holding 48 seats in the newly formed 8th Delhi Assembly and the opposition AAP having 22, Gupta’s election as Speaker was a clear choice.

A Vocal Opponent of the AAP Government

As Leader of the Opposition from 2015 to 2020 and briefly in 2024, Gupta was a fierce critic of the Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP government. He raised several issues, including the alleged liquor scam and the non-tabling of CAG reports.

“The assembly session of the Delhi Assembly will be convened next week for the oath of the MLAs. In the first session of the Assembly, the CAG reports will be tabled in the House to expose the corruption of AAP,” Gupta told HT.

Though the schedule for the first session is yet to be finalized, an official from the Delhi government indicated that it is expected to be convened within a few days.

Fate Comes Full Circle

Gupta’s journey is a striking example of political reversal. In 2015, during AAP’s dominant rule with 67 out of 70 MLAs, then-Speaker Ram Niwas Goel ordered Gupta to leave the House following a heated exchange with AAP’s women legislators.

When he refused, marshals forcibly removed him—a moment that became emblematic of his opposition role.

Over the years, Gupta was frequently marshalled out whenever he challenged the AAP government. Now, he holds the authority as Speaker.

An RSS-Backed Political Journey

Gupta’s association with the RSS dates back to his childhood, where he was a ‘swayamsevak.’

In the 1980s, he actively participated in student politics, later becoming the Delhi convener of the BJP’s student wing and vice president of the DU Students’ Union in 1984.

He was appointed Delhi BJP president in 2010, a position he held for three years.

Even during the AAP wave in 2015, Gupta was one of only three BJP MLAs who managed to secure a seat. His ability to navigate both political dominance and setbacks demonstrates his resilience.

Rohini’s ‘Gupta Ji’: A Stalwart Amidst BJP’s Challenges

Known as ‘Gupta Ji’ in Rohini, he has remained a stronghold for the BJP, winning elections even when the party faced near-washouts in Delhi. Rohini has been his political base, backed by a strong trader community.

Despite adversities, his steady rise in politics showcases his strategic approach and grassroots connections. His reputation as a smiling politician with legislative expertise is well acknowledged by his peers.

Gupta’s Role in the CAG Report Controversy

What set Gupta apart was his pursuit of the alleged financial mismanagement under the AAP government. He persistently demanded the tabling of the CAG reports, even taking the matter to the Delhi High Court.

In January, just before the election, the court strongly criticized the AAP government for delaying the reports.

Justice Sachin Datta remarked, “You should have promptly forwarded the reports to the Speaker and had a discussion in the House. The timeline is stark. The way you have been dragging your feet is something that is unfortunate.”

The BJP leveraged this issue to build a narrative of alleged corruption, further damaging AAP’s electoral prospects. Gupta’s determination to bring transparency played a role in shaping the political landscape ahead of the election.