Nayab Singh Saini, 54, has been unanimously elected as the leader of the Haryana BJP legislature party, setting the stage for his second term as Chief Minister. Saini will be officially sworn in on Thursday, October 17, in a high-profile ceremony. His election came following a meeting of the newly elected 48 BJP legislators, which was attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, who acted as central observers. Also present were senior leaders, including Union Power Minister and former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and BJP state election in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah announced Saini’s election as the party’s legislative leader, noting that only one proposal had been put forward by Narwana MLA Krishan Bedi, which was seconded by Ambala Cantt MLA Anil Vij. The proposal was unanimously supported by all BJP MLAs.
Saini, seen as the BJP’s prominent OBC face in Haryana, was named as the party’s chief ministerial candidate during the run-up to the October 5 Assembly elections, focusing on securing the non-Jat vote bank, particularly the OBC community. His leadership has been central to the party’s electoral strategy, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Amit Shah presenting him as the future of the state during the campaign.
Saini previously replaced Manohar Lal Khattar as Chief Minister in March 2023, just ahead of the June Lok Sabha elections. Khattar, who contested and won the Karnal Lok Sabha seat, was appointed a Union minister, making Saini the centerpiece of the state election campaign.
In a significant political achievement, the BJP scored a hat-trick in the Assembly elections, securing 48 out of 90 seats, despite a strong anti-incumbency wave since 2014. The Congress party, the main opposition, secured 37 seats, while the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) managed to win only two seats. Three independent candidates also secured victories and later extended their support to the BJP, further solidifying the party’s position.
Saini’s second term as Chief Minister is seen as a crucial moment for the BJP, as the party looks to strengthen its hold on Haryana’s political landscape, with a focus on development and governance.
