Congress leader Sheila Dikshit has been elected Chief Minister of Delhi thrice since 1998. She has a record of leading her party to three consecutive victories in New Delhi constituency in the Legislative Assembly of Delhi. Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi acknowledged her administrative skills and nominated Dikshit as an Indian delegate of the United Nations Commission on the issue of status of women. This marked her entry in Indian politics, which led her eventually to become the chief minister of Delhi. In 2009, Dikshit was criticized when she granted parole to Manu Sharma, who is convicted for a life sentence for murdering Jessica Lal. In 2010, the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) allegedly accused Dikshit of corruption and irregularities related to street-light equipment that were imported to the city during the Commonwealth Games that year. She withdrew herself as Congress' chief ministerial candidate after her party sealed an alliance with Samajwadi Party for Uttar Pradesh polls. In July last year, Congress had named 79-year-old Dikshit as the party's chief ministerial face and she had campaigned across the state in the last few months.

Party: Congress

Born: 31 March 1938