In a significant political event, Nayab Singh Saini has taken oath as Haryana Chief Minister for the second time, solidifying the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s record third consecutive term in power in the state. The oath-taking ceremony was held on Thursday at the Parade Ground in Panchkula, near Chandigarh, and was attended by prominent figures, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and 18 Chief Ministers from NDA-ruled states.
This mega gathering is viewed as a demonstration of strength by the BJP, especially with crucial assembly polls approaching in Maharashtra and Jharkhand.
LIVE : नॉन-स्टॉप हरियाणा का शपथ ग्रहण समारोह https://t.co/yVgRVvzCtk
— Nayab Saini (@NayabSainiBJP) October 17, 2024
Ceremony Details and Key Attendees
Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya administered the oath of office and secrecy to Saini, who first assumed the role of Chief Minister in March this year, succeeding former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. In addition to Saini, other BJP leaders, including Anil Vij, Krishan Lal Panwar, and Rao Narbir Singh, were also sworn in.
The political journey of Nayab Singh Saini spans nearly three decades. Born in 1970, he entered the political arena under the guidance of Khattar. Saini was first elected as an MLA from Naraingarh in 2014 and was inducted into the state Cabinet in 2016.
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His prominence surged during his tenure as MP from Kurukshetra, a seat he won in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections by defeating Congress’s Nirmal Singh with a substantial margin.
In the lead-up to his swearing-in, Saini undertook several religious visits, paying respects at Valmiki Bhawan, a local gurdwara, and the Mansa Devi temple in Panchkula.
BJP’s Remarkable Victory in Haryana Assembly Elections
The BJP achieved an unprecedented victory in the October 5 assembly elections, securing 48 of the 90 seats in the state assembly, defying expectations for a third consecutive term. The Congress, the main opposition party, won 37 seats, while regional parties like the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) struggled to make an impact. The once-dominant Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) was reduced to just two seats.
Saini won his assembly seat from Ladwa, a constituency established in 2007, defeating Congress candidate Mewa Singh by a margin of 16,054 votes. Notably, while eight of his ten previous Cabinet ministers faced defeat, Mahipal Dhanda and Mool Chand Sharma emerged victorious.
Dominance in Scheduled Castes Constituencies
The BJP’s dominance was particularly evident in constituencies reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC), where the party flipped eight of the 17 SC seats, including Nilokheri, Pataudi, Kharkhauda, Hodal, Bawal, Narwana, Israna, and Bawani Khera. A remarkable victory was recorded in Hodal, where Haryana Congress chief Udai Bhan was unseated by BJP’s Harinder Singh.
