Former Delhi CMs Sushma Swaraj and Sheila Dikshit: Political rivals yet close friends
The only two former female Chief Ministers of Delhi, Sushma Swaraj and Sheila Dikshit shared a paradoxical relationship. The former external affairs minister described it as political rivals yet close friends.
Swaraj and Dixit at the inaugural session of the National Conference of Women Legislators in New Delhi in 2016 (File Photo) | Photo Credit: BCCL
Key Highlights
- Swaraj's demise was reported from AIIMS in Delhi on Tuesday night
- Dikshit breathed her last on July 20 of this year
- Three former Delhi chief ministers - Sushma Swaraj, Sheila Dikshit and Madanlal Khurana passed away this year
- Sushma Swaraj held office of Delhi Chief Minister for 52 days
- Former External Affairs Minister described her relationship with Dikshit as 'political rivals, close friends'
New Delhi: As India mourns the sudden demise of former external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj, condolences continue to pour in for the firebrand politician from across the political spectrum. Known for her fiery speeches and stature among India's millennials due to her effective adaptation of digital diplomacy, the tall Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader was hailed as an astute stateswoman by public figures not just at home but abroad.
However, Swaraj's death delivers a huge blow to India's capital city which was still reeling with the loss of its other former female Chief Minister Sheila Dixit. At the time of Dixit's death on July 20, the veteran politician took to micro-blogging website Twitter to condole the demise of her political nemesis. "Sorry to know about the sudden demise of Sheila Dixit Ji. We were opponents in politics but friends in personal life," tweeted Swaraj while saying that Dixit was a "fine human being".
The relationship between Delhi's only two female chief ministers was complicated yet amicable. The two were photographed sharing a laugh on several occasions. One such instance was the 61st Republic Day celebration at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi in 2010. Another was the oath-taking ceremony of ministers in 2012.
They were also seen together at the 67th Independence Day celebration at Red Fort in 2013. Swaraj and Dixit were last photographed together at the inaugural session of the National Conference of Women Legislators in New Delhi in 2016. Political analysts have often referred to the relationship between the two former chief ministers as one driven by political rivalry owing to their seats on opposite sides of the aisle and party affiliations.
Not many know that the equation between Dikshit and Swaraj goes back to the late 1990s when the Congresswoman succeeded the then former minister of information and broadcasting as the sixth chief minister of Delhi, the second woman to have held the prestigious office after Delhi became a Union Territory in 1991.
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Sworn in as the chief minister of India's capital city on October 12, 1998, Swaraj took office at a time when the people of Delhi were witnessing an unprecedented breakdown of civic services. Public outcry forced the hand of the BJP high command which decided to field the Haryana-based politician as their CM candidate. Despite stiff opposition and demonstrations by the Punjabi and Jat lobbies, Swaraj held her own and managed to retain the office for a little over 50 days after which she was succeeded for the post by budding Congress stateswoman Sheila Dixit.
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