Fact Check: Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta wields sword like warrior? Here is the truth

On February 19, 2025, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced Rekha Gupta as the new Chief Minister of Delhi, marking the party's return to power in the capital after 27 years. Gupta, a first-time MLA from Shalimar Bagh, was elected as the leader of the BJP legislative party during a meeting of newly elected MLAs. She took the oath of office on February 20, 2025, at Ramlila Maidan.

In this context, a video circulating on social media shows a woman performing puja by a riverbank, followed by stretching exercises, drawing a kolam, and skillfully wielding a sword. The video is being shared with the claim that it features Delhi's newly elected Chief Minister, Rekha Gupta.

An X user shared the video with the caption, “Her name is Rekha Gupta, and today she was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Delhi.” (Archive)

Fact Check

NewsMeter found the claim is false. The video shows Marathi actress Payal Jadhav.

A reverse image search of keyframes from the video led to its original post from February 19, 2025, on the Instagram account of Marathi actress Payal Jadhav. In the caption, she stated that she performed in the video to commemorate Shivaji Jayanti. (Archive)

While reviewing Jadhav's Instagram account, we came across multiple videos of her performing in various dramas, including the Marathi drama Abeer Gulal. (Click here, here and here to view the videos.)

According to The Times of India, Jadhav’s latest films include Three of Us and Baaplyok. IMDb also lists her as part of the cast for Parees, Goal Maal, and Manvat Murders.

A comparison of Jadhav and Gupta’s images further confirms that the viral video does not feature the Delhi CM.

Therefore, we conclude that the viral video features Marathi actress Payal Jadahav, not Delhi CM Rekha Gupta. The claim is false.