Bharatiya Janata Party MLA from Karawal Nagar Kapil Mishra was sworn in as a minister in the new Delhi government led by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Thursday. A politician with prior experience in governance, Mishra is the only minister in the new BJP cabinet who has served in a previous government.
Journey from AAP to BJP
Kapil Mishra first entered mainstream politics with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), winning the 2015 Delhi Assembly election from Karawal Nagar. He was appointed as water resources minister in Arvind Kejriwal’s cabinet. However, in 2017, he was expelled from AAP after he accused Kejriwal and then ministers Satyendar Jain and PWD officials of corruption.
His expulsion marked a turning point in his career. In 2019, he joined the BJP and campaigned vigorously against AAP. However, his first electoral run with the saffron party in the 2020 Assembly elections from Model Town ended in defeat. Despite this setback, his ability to mobilise crowds impressed BJP leadership, leading to his appointment as Delhi BJP vice-president in August 2023.
A controversial, influential leader
Mishra, a prominent Brahmin face in Delhi politics, has often courted controversy. He faced criticism for alleged provocative speeches before the 2020 Delhi riots. However, within the BJP, he has gained influence due to his aggressive political style and crowd-pulling capabilities, especially showcased during the 2022 Gujarat Assembly polls, IE report quoted party insiders as saying.
Before entering politics, Mishra was known for his activism on farmer suicides, Yamuna encroachment and the Commonwealth Games scam, even authoring a book titled ‘It’s Common VS Wealth’.
BJP’s Delhi comeback and Mishra’s new role
With BJP returning to power in Delhi after 26 years, Mishra is among six cabinet ministers sworn in alongside Rekha Gupta. Speaking to ANI before taking office, he declared that the new government would investigate corruption in the previous AAP administration.
“All of us will work together to implement PM Modi’s vision. AAP betrayed the people of Delhi, and they received their punishment through the power of vote…There will be an investigation against the corruption of AAP and Arvind Kejriwal,” he said.
Born on November 13, 1980, Kapil Mishra hails from Madhya Pradesh’s Rewa. His mother, Annapurna Mishra, served as the Mayor of East Delhi from the BJP. His rise in politics reflects a mix of activism, controversy and a shift from AAP’s anti-corruption crusade to BJP’s nationalist narrative.