Nayab Singh Saini will be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Haryana for his second term at a ceremony scheduled for 10 am on October 17. The event will take place in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), including counterparts from other BJP-ruled states.
Saini first assumed office in March after Manohar Lal Khattar resigned to contest the Lok Sabha elections. His appointment as Chief Minister came as a surprise, particularly given the impending general and Assembly elections. Despite speculation about a potential replacement amid concerns over government effectiveness and caste dynamics, BJP sources affirmed that Saini’s pivotal role in the party’s significant electoral victory warranted a second term.
The decision to appoint Saini followed a strategic shuffle to counter anti-incumbency, initiated when Khattar stepped down, securing a Lok Sabha seat in the process. Supporters of Saini have highlighted his implementation of beneficial schemes targeting traders, youth, backward classes, and government employees, which helped alleviate the anti-incumbency sentiment accumulated during Khattar’s tenure.
As the BJP prepares for Saini’s swearing-in, the next critical task will be assembling the Haryana Cabinet. The Cabinet can include a maximum of 14 ministers, with the Chief Minister accounting for one position. Consequently, the BJP will need to fill 13 slots, requiring at least 11 new faces, as only Mahipal Dhanda and Mool Chand Sharma from Saini’s first government were re-elected.
Balancing caste equations and addressing community demands will be essential for the BJP, which has successfully navigated such complexities in the past. In the recent Haryana Assembly elections, the BJP secured 48 of the 90 seats, marking a historic third consecutive victory—an unprecedented achievement in the state’s political history. The Congress party, which garnered 37 seats, fell short of its projected target of at least 55.
Following the election results, Prime Minister Modi commended the dedication of party workers and supporters while criticizing the Congress, describing it as a “parasitic party” that relies on alliance partners for success. As Haryana anticipates Saini’s second term, all eyes will be on the formation of a Cabinet that reflects the diverse needs of its constituents.
Sources By Agencies