Who is the Longest Serving Chief Minister of Delhi, Check Here!

Since its establishment, Delhi has had a total of eight Chief Ministers. The first was Chaudhary Brahm Prakash, who served from 1952 to 1955. 

Over the years, Delhi has seen several leaders take charge, each contributing to the city's growth. The longest-serving Chief Minister of Delhi is Sheila Dikshit. She held office for over 15 years, from 1998 to 2013.

Sheila Dikshit played a crucial role in modernising Delhi. Her tenure saw major infrastructure developments, better public transport, and improved governance. Under her leadership, the Delhi Metro expanded, roads improved, and public services became more efficient.

In this article, we will take a closer look at the history of Delhi’s Chief Ministers. We will explore their contributions and understand how leadership has shaped the capital.

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List of All Chief Ministers of Delhi Till Date

According to present data and reports, there are a total of 8 chief ministers of New Delhi. The list includes:

Sheila Dikshit: The Longest-Serving Chief Minister of Delhi

Source: Times Now Navbharat

Sheila Dikshit (1938–2019) was an Indian politician who served as the longest-serving chief minister of Delhi, holding office for 15 years, beginning in 19981. She is also the longest-serving female chief minister in Indian history.

Early Life and Career:

• Born Sheila Kapoor on March 31, 1938.
• She was the Chairperson of the Young Women's Association in the early 1970s and helped set up working women's hostels in Delhi.
• She also served as secretary of the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust.

Political Career:

• In 1984, Rajiv Gandhi chose Dikshit to be part of his council of ministers.
• Represented the Kannauj parliamentary constituency of Uttar Pradesh between 1984 and 1989.
• Served on the Estimates Committee of Lok Sabha as a member of Parliament.
• Chaired the Implementation Committee for Commemoration of Forty Years of India's Independence and Jawaharlal Nehru Centenary.
• Represented India at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women from 1984 to 1989.
• Served as a Union Minister from 1986 to 1989, holding positions as Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office.
• In 1990, she and 82 colleagues were jailed for 23 days for protesting atrocities against women in Uttar Pradesh.
• She was defeated in the 1998 parliamentary elections by Lal Bihari Tiwari of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the East Delhi constituency.
• Later in 1998, she became Chief Minister of Delhi, a position she held until 2013.
• Dikshit represented the Gole Market assembly constituency in the 1998 and 2003 Assembly elections and the New Delhi constituency in 2008.
• In the 2013 Delhi Legislative Assembly election, she lost to Arvind Kejriwal. She resigned on December 8, 2013, remaining as caretaker chief minister until a new government was sworn in on December 28, 2013.
• Appointed governor of Kerala in March 2014 but resigned after five months.
• In 2017, she withdrew her nomination as chief ministerial candidate for the Indian National Congress in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly election.
• Appointed president of the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee on January 10, 2019, and remained in office until her death in July of the same year.
• She contested the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections as the candidate for Indian National Congress in the North East Delhi Constituency but came second after Bharatiya Janata Party's Manoj Tiwari.

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Tenure as Chief Minister of Delhi:

• Sheila Dikshit served three terms as Chief Minister of Delhi, from 1998 to 2013.
• She led the Indian National Congress party to three consecutive electoral victories in Delhi.
• Credited with transforming Delhi into a "world-class city" by constructing roads and flyovers, improving public transportation, and helping to reduce pollution.
• Key contributions included introducing CNG-powered public buses, expanding the Delhi Metro, constructing nearly 90 flyovers, and developing education and health infrastructure.
• Her government purchased approximately 5,500 buses, significantly contributing to public transport.
• She stood by the decision to shift autorickshaws and buses to CNG, despite resistance, to improve the city's air quality.

Death:

• Sheila Dikshit died on July 20, 2019, at the age of 81, due to cardiac arrest.
• Political figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind, expressed their condolences.
• She was praised for her contributions to Delhi's development and her ability to strike a balance between the central and state governments.

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What were Sheila Dikshit's Major Achievements as the Chief Minister of Delhi?

As Chief Minister of Delhi from 1998 to 2013, Sheila Dikshit is credited with transforming Delhi into a "world-class city" through numerous infrastructure projects and initiatives134.

Key accomplishments:

Infrastructure Development: Dikshit initiated projects such as the Delhi Metro expansion and the construction of flyovers and underpasses to reduce traffic. 

Nearly 65 flyovers were constructed during her tenure. Road infrastructure projects included the Barahpullah elevated corridor, AIIMS flyover, and ITO flyover. The Signature Bridge project was one of her favourites.

Public Transportation: She promoted environment-friendly public transport, including CNG-based buses, making Delhi the city with the world's largest fleet of CNG buses. 

Her government purchased approximately 5,500 buses, significantly improving public transport. The Delhi Metro's first line opened between Shahdara and Tis Hazari in 2002, revolutionising commuting in the city.

Environmental Initiatives: Dikshit focused on improving the environment by shifting auto-rickshaws and buses to CNG to improve air quality. She launched green initiatives like the "Delhi Metro Green Drive" and the "Green Delhi Clean Delhi" campaign.

Women's Initiatives: Dikshit launched schemes for women and girls, such as 'Stree Shakti' to address the needs of women from weaker sections by providing better health, nutrition, education, income generation, and legal protection. 

The Ladli scheme empowered girl children born in Delhi and promoted their birth registrations.

Improved Essential Services: She improved Delhi's infrastructure, water supply, and power distribution. 

The Sonia Vihar treatment plant was constructed to bring water from the Ganga canal to East Delhi. Welcoming private players in power distribution and production led to a power surplus in Delhi and an end to power cuts.

Other: Modernising the IGI Airport and introducing streetscaping. The 'Bhagidari' scheme was implemented as the first public participatory governance model in the city.

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Conclusion

In conclusion, Sheila Dikshit holds the record as the longest-serving Chief Minister of Delhi, with an uninterrupted tenure of 15 years and 25 days. 

Arvind Kejriwal follows, serving continuously for 9 years and 219 days, with a total tenure of 9 years and 267 days. 

Other notable Chief Ministers include Brahm Prakash, who served for 2 years and 332 days, and Sahib Singh Verma, with 2 years and 228 days in office. Madan Lal Khurana completed 2 years and 86 days, while Gurmukh Nihal Singh served for 1 year and 263 days. 

Atishi Marlena's tenure lasted 142 days, whereas Sushma Swaraj had the shortest term of just 52 days. 

Additionally, Delhi experienced President's Rule for a year, and the office of the Chief Minister remained abolished for 37 years and 30 days. This historical timeline highlights the political shifts and leadership transitions in Delhi over the decades.

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