The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is poised to establish its government for a third consecutive term in Haryana, with Nayab Singh Saini scheduled to take the oath of office as Chief Minister on October 17. This follows the party’s impressive victory in the recent assembly elections, where they achieved a record 48 seats, outpacing the Congress by 11 seats.
Khattar Confirms Ceremony Details
Union Minister and former Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved the swearing-in ceremony, set to take place in Panchkula. Khattar stated, “We have received the nod of the PM that on October 17, in Panchkula, the CM and council of ministers will take oath.” To facilitate the event, a 10-member committee led by the Panchkula District Commissioner has been formed by the chief secretary to oversee the arrangements.
Saini Meets With BJP Leaders
Before his swearing-in, Nayab Singh Saini met with Prime Minister Modi and other senior BJP leaders in Delhi. He also consulted with Dharmendra Pradhan, the Union Minister and BJP’s election in-charge for Haryana. Saini’s selection as chief minister was anticipated, as the party indicated during the election campaign that he would be their nominee for the top post.
BJP’s Historic Electoral Performance
In the assembly elections, the BJP recorded its best-ever results, winning 48 seats while the Congress secured 37. The Jannayak Janata Party and the Aam Aadmi Party faced severe setbacks, while the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) managed only two seats. This victory underscores the BJP’s stronghold in the state.
New Cabinet Faces Challenges Ahead
While the BJP celebrates its electoral success, the new cabinet will need to address the challenges that arise from the elections. Outgoing ministers faced difficulties, with eight of the ten ministers losing their seats. However, two ministers, Mahipal Dhanda from Panipat Rural and Mool Chand Sharma from Ballabhgarh, emerged victorious and are expected to be considered for ministerial roles in the new government. Haryana has a maximum capacity of 14 ministers, including the Chief Minister, which adds to the importance of strategic appointments moving forward.
