Nayab Singh Saini assumed office as the Chief Minister of Haryana on Tuesday, succeeding Manohar Lal Khattar. The swearing-in ceremony, held at Raj Bhavan, witnessed the induction of five ministers, including BJP MLAs Banwari Lal, Jai Parkash Dalal, and independent legislator Ranjit Singh.
Former Home Minister Anil Vij, who left the legislative party meeting prematurely, was notably absent from the oath ceremony in Chandigarh. Nayab Singh Saini, a Member of Parliament from Kurukshetra and a prominent face of the OBC community, had been appointed as the state president of Haryana BJP in October of the previous year.
Saini’s ascent to the role of BJP’s legislature party leader followed Manohar Lal Khattar’s resignation amidst internal discord within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-Jannayak Janata Party (BJP-JJP) alliance, which had governed the state since 2019.
Expressing gratitude on social media platform X, Saini stated, “I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP National President JP Nadda, Haryana BJP in-charge Biplab Deb, and former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for choosing me as the leader of the BJP legislature party.”
The strained relationship between the BJP and JJP worsened after failed seat-sharing negotiations for the Lok Sabha elections, leading to the resignation of all 14 members, including the Chief Minister and three from the Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala-led JJP.
With 41 MLAs in the 90-member assembly, the BJP currently holds the majority, supported by the JJP’s 10 members and six independents. The main opposition Congress has 30 MLAs, while the Indian National Lok Dal and Haryana Lokhit Party have one seat each. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP secured victory in all 10 seats in the state.
In response to Khattar’s resignation, Congress MP Deepender Hooda remarked, “All that is happening in Haryana is because the public has decided to bring change. The public was upset with the present government in the state. We are keeping a close eye on the developments.”
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