crown

Subscribe Now

FOLLOW US

Sign in

Photos: Remembering Sheila Dikshit, Delhi’s longest serving Chief Minister

Often termed an “outsider” by her own party persons, Sheila Dikshit turned her lack of a political background to her advantage and kept a neutral image while leading the party to victory for three consecutive terms in Delhi. “I love Delhi and that’s what has kept me going,” were Dikshit’s final words to a small group of reporters at her residence just two days before her death at the age of 81. A look at the life and work of Congress stalwart Sheila Dikshit.

Updated on: Jul 22, 2019 5:46 PM IST

Share via

Copy link

1/13

The longest serving Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit breathed her last on Saturday. Often termed an “outsider” by her own party persons, Dikshit turned her lack of a political background to her advantage and kept a neutral image while leading the party to victory for three consecutive terms in the national capital. (Vipin Kumar / HT Archive)

Updated on Jul 22, 2019 5:46 PM

The longest serving Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit breathed her last on Saturday. Often termed an “outsider” by her own party persons, Dikshit turned her lack of a political background to her advantage and kept a neutral image while leading the party to victory for three consecutive terms in the national capital. (Vipin Kumar / HT Archive)

2/13

Sheila Dikshit during her election campaign on November 09, 1998. A towering figure in the Congress, her political socialisation happened at home. Dikshit’s father-in-law, Uma Shankar Dikshit, was a close associate of Indira Gandhi, and had served in her Cabinet. When Rajiv Gandhi won 1984, Dikshit, elected to the Lok Sabha from UP’s Kannauj served as his minister of state for parliamentary affairs, building links across party lines. (HC Tiwari / HT Archive)

Updated on Jul 22, 2019 5:46 PM

Sheila Dikshit during her election campaign on November 09, 1998. A towering figure in the Congress, her political socialisation happened at home. Dikshit’s father-in-law, Uma Shankar Dikshit, was a close associate of Indira Gandhi, and had served in her Cabinet. When Rajiv Gandhi won 1984, Dikshit, elected to the Lok Sabha from UP’s Kannauj served as his minister of state for parliamentary affairs, building links across party lines. (HC Tiwari / HT Archive)

3/13

Born Sheila Kapoor in Kapurthala, Punjab, Dikshit was brought to the national capital early in her life, and it was from here that she completed her schooling, from the Convent of Jesus and Mary, and graduation, from Miranda House in Delhi University. (Prakash Singh / HT Archive)

Updated on Jul 22, 2019 5:46 PM

Born Sheila Kapoor in Kapurthala, Punjab, Dikshit was brought to the national capital early in her life, and it was from here that she completed her schooling, from the Convent of Jesus and Mary, and graduation, from Miranda House in Delhi University. (Prakash Singh / HT Archive)

4/13

Dikshit was choosy about the officers she kept close but having selected them there were then no games. Trust was unspoken but solid. But no letter writing and telephone calls were made to take the monkey off some whining bureaucrat’s back. “It’s your job, sweetheart,” she would say much like an affectionate aunt, said Shailaja Chandra, former chief secretary at Dikshit’s office. (Subhendu Ghosh / HT Archive)

Updated on Jul 22, 2019 5:46 PM

Dikshit was choosy about the officers she kept close but having selected them there were then no games. Trust was unspoken but solid. But no letter writing and telephone calls were made to take the monkey off some whining bureaucrat’s back. “It’s your job, sweetheart,” she would say much like an affectionate aunt, said Shailaja Chandra, former chief secretary at Dikshit’s office. (Subhendu Ghosh / HT Archive)

5/13

Sheila Dikshit as the new Congress DPCC President on May 26, 1998. The privatisation of electricity happened under Sheila Dikshit’s regime, and while this had its share of critics, it did help the city overcome the acute shortages that plagues the energy sector. She also encouraged participatory governance through the flagship Bhagidaari initiative. (Girish Shrivastava / HT Archive)

Updated on Jul 22, 2019 5:46 PM

Sheila Dikshit as the new Congress DPCC President on May 26, 1998. The privatisation of electricity happened under Sheila Dikshit’s regime, and while this had its share of critics, it did help the city overcome the acute shortages that plagues the energy sector. She also encouraged participatory governance through the flagship Bhagidaari initiative. (Girish Shrivastava / HT Archive)

6/13

Newly elected Chief Minister of Delhi Sheila Dikshit and her ministry are sworn in on December 03, 1998. She really came in to her own when as Delhi’s CM in 1998. It was a challenging context. Externally, the Bharatiya Janata Party was in power at the Centre. And given Delhi’s unique constitutional status, its autonomy was constrained and the local government was dependent on harmonious ties with the Centre. (SK Sinha / HT Archive)

Updated on Jul 22, 2019 5:46 PM

Newly elected Chief Minister of Delhi Sheila Dikshit and her ministry are sworn in on December 03, 1998. She really came in to her own when as Delhi’s CM in 1998. It was a challenging context. Externally, the Bharatiya Janata Party was in power at the Centre. And given Delhi’s unique constitutional status, its autonomy was constrained and the local government was dependent on harmonious ties with the Centre. (SK Sinha / HT Archive)

7/13

Then CM of Delhi Sheila Dikshit and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in New Delhi on October 26, 1999. “She didn’t let the political differences affect the development of the city. She worked with the BJP-led central government during her first term and completed ambitious projects such as the Delhi Metro. The present dispensation in Delhi can learn a lot from Sheilaji,” said Harsh Vardhan, senior BJP leader. (HT Archive)

Updated on Jul 22, 2019 5:46 PM

Then CM of Delhi Sheila Dikshit and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in New Delhi on October 26, 1999. “She didn’t let the political differences affect the development of the city. She worked with the BJP-led central government during her first term and completed ambitious projects such as the Delhi Metro. The present dispensation in Delhi can learn a lot from Sheilaji,” said Harsh Vardhan, senior BJP leader. (HT Archive)

8/13

Sheila Dikshit and Jagmohan Inaugurate the CNG Gas Pipeline at Jangpura on April 01, 2000. “Delhi became what it is under her tenure because she never kept aside any personal time for herself. Even when we would drive from home to office or for a meeting, she would take note of a fused bulb on a streetlight or a broken central verge and get agencies to fix them,” said Kiran Walia, former minister in Dikshit’s cabinet. (Pradeep Bhatia / HT Archive)

Updated on Jul 22, 2019 5:46 PM

Sheila Dikshit and Jagmohan Inaugurate the CNG Gas Pipeline at Jangpura on April 01, 2000. “Delhi became what it is under her tenure because she never kept aside any personal time for herself. Even when we would drive from home to office or for a meeting, she would take note of a fused bulb on a streetlight or a broken central verge and get agencies to fix them,” said Kiran Walia, former minister in Dikshit’s cabinet. (Pradeep Bhatia / HT Archive)

9/13

CNG Autos are launched on May 29, 2000. Although the shift to CNG was in accordance to the Supreme Court order, Dikshit faced stiff resistance. “She was concerned about the city’s air quality. I remember she once called me at 7am asking about alternatives, after seeing an auto-rickshaw emanating thick smoke,” said Sunita Narian, member of the SC appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority. (Pradeep Bhatia / HT Archive)

Updated on Jul 22, 2019 5:46 PM

CNG Autos are launched on May 29, 2000. Although the shift to CNG was in accordance to the Supreme Court order, Dikshit faced stiff resistance. “She was concerned about the city’s air quality. I remember she once called me at 7am asking about alternatives, after seeing an auto-rickshaw emanating thick smoke,” said Sunita Narian, member of the SC appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority. (Pradeep Bhatia / HT Archive)

10/13

Always attired in pastel cotton saris in summer and discerningly selected Tassare saris in winter, Dikshit was always personable. She was equally at ease sitting on a ramshackle stool in a congested slum asking the women “aap ko pani, ration or tel mila?” and still wearing the same sari actively participating in a cascade of music festivals that resonated through the parks and monuments of Delhi, recalls a former secretary. (Arvind Yadav / HT Archive)

Updated on Jul 22, 2019 5:46 PM

Always attired in pastel cotton saris in summer and discerningly selected Tassare saris in winter, Dikshit was always personable. She was equally at ease sitting on a ramshackle stool in a congested slum asking the women “aap ko pani, ration or tel mila?” and still wearing the same sari actively participating in a cascade of music festivals that resonated through the parks and monuments of Delhi, recalls a former secretary. (Arvind Yadav / HT Archive)

11/13

Then Deputy PM LK Advani during the flag off ceremony of Delhi Metro Rail on September 17, 2002. Dikshit’s former Cabinet colleagues say infrastructure was one of her key focus areas. The opening of Delhi’s first Metro line between Shahdara and Tis Hazari and further expansions changed the way people commuted in the city. AK Walia, the PWD minister in Dikshit’s cabinet, said nearly 65 flyovers were built during their tenure. (HC Tiwari / HT Archive)

Updated on Jul 22, 2019 5:46 PM

Then Deputy PM LK Advani during the flag off ceremony of Delhi Metro Rail on September 17, 2002. Dikshit’s former Cabinet colleagues say infrastructure was one of her key focus areas. The opening of Delhi’s first Metro line between Shahdara and Tis Hazari and further expansions changed the way people commuted in the city. AK Walia, the PWD minister in Dikshit’s cabinet, said nearly 65 flyovers were built during their tenure. (HC Tiwari / HT Archive)

12/13

Despite being known for the development work, her political downslide began during her last term as chief minister, with the Commonwealth Games of 2010, which sort of became the albatross around her neck. She also faced criticism for her comments after the December 16 gang-rape when she blamed migrants for crimes in the capital. (S Burmaula / HT Archive)

Updated on Jul 22, 2019 5:46 PM

Despite being known for the development work, her political downslide began during her last term as chief minister, with the Commonwealth Games of 2010, which sort of became the albatross around her neck. She also faced criticism for her comments after the December 16 gang-rape when she blamed migrants for crimes in the capital. (S Burmaula / HT Archive)

13/13

“I love Delhi and that’s what has kept me going,” were Dikshit’s final words to a small group of reporters at her residence on Thursday. Until Friday, a day before she breathed her last, the three-time former Delhi CM was still fighting to revive the Congress party in the national capital. (Mohd Zakir / HT Archive)

Updated on Jul 22, 2019 5:46 PM

“I love Delhi and that’s what has kept me going,” were Dikshit’s final words to a small group of reporters at her residence on Thursday. Until Friday, a day before she breathed her last, the three-time former Delhi CM was still fighting to revive the Congress party in the national capital. (Mohd Zakir / HT Archive)

Related Photos

Home/Photos/News/Photos: Remembering Sheila Dikshit, Delhi’s Longest Serving Chief Minister

© 2026 HindustanTimes