New Delhi (02.08.2025): This signifies the influence of former Congress leaders on Delhi's political landscape. Two former ministers in the Sheila Dikshit government in Delhi who switched sides to the BJP -- Arwinder Singh Lovely and Raj Kumar Chouhan -- have been accorded cabinet rank by the Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta.

The Gandhi Nagar MLA who served as pro-tem speaker quit the Congress protesting its alliance with AAP and later joined the BJP. This was his second chance to join the BJP. Chouhan left the Congress as he was denied Lok Sabha ticket for Udit Raj in 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

Once the longest-serving Education Minister and a favoured figure of former CM Sheila Dikshit, still holds significant sway with voters. His political influence is now seen as a major asset for Rekha Gupta, who is reportedly positioning him as a key player to diminish the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) dominance in Delhi.

Another former Congress strongman, has also aligned himself with Gupta. He is known for his ability to mobilize voters, especially in the outer Delhi region. Both Lovely and Chauhan are expected to play a crucial role in strengthening the BJP's presence in the capital.