ACTION PUNJAB NEWS Desk: Following the resignation of Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Nayab Singh Saini has emerged as the successor, elected as the BJP legislature party leader. This significant transition comes amidst the backdrop of apparent discord within the ruling coalition of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Jannayak Janata Party (JJP).
Expressing felicitations, BJP Haryana-in-charge Biplab Deb extended his congratulations to Nayab Singh Saini on his appointment as the leader of the legislative party. Deb expressed confidence in Saini’s ability to uphold the developmental initiatives initiated under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
Khattar’s resignation, tendered to Governor Bandaru Dattatreya at Raj Bhawan ahead of the BJP’s legislature party meeting, underscores the fissures within the BJP-JJP alliance, exacerbated by unsuccessful negotiations over seat-sharing for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
In response to these developments, a central BJP team comprising Union Minister Arjun Munda and former Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has been dispatched to oversee the transitional phase in the state.
Despite the ruptured alliance, the BJP asserts its numerical strength to surpass the halfway mark in the 90-member House, buoyed by the support of six independent MLAs. The prevailing political landscape in Haryana signals the onset of a new era, as speculation abounds regarding the formation of a fresh cabinet amidst this period of transition.
Who is Nayab Singh Saini?
Nayab Singh Saini, representing the Kurukshetra constituency in the Lok Sabha, emerges as a prominent figure within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), particularly in Haryana’s political landscape. Hailing from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) community, Saini assumed the role of state president of the Haryana BJP in October of the previous year, marking a significant milestone in his political trajectory.
His journey within the BJP dates back to 1996 when he embarked on his political career within the party’s organisational framework in Haryana. Saini’s dedication and diligence propelled him through various hierarchical positions, including serving as the district general secretary of the BJP Youth Wing in Ambala in 2002, and subsequently as the district president in Ambala in 2005.
His commitment to the party’s cause earned him pivotal roles such as the state general secretary of the BJP Kisan Morcha in Haryana in 2009, and later as the district president of Ambala BJP in 2012. Saini’s political fortunes soared when he secured victory as a Member of the Legislative Assembly from the Narayangarh constituency in 2014, followed by his appointment as a minister in the Haryana government in 2016.
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The pinnacle of Saini’s political career was evident in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, where he clinched victory by defeating his nearest rival, Nirmal Singh of the Indian National Congress (INC), from the Kurukshetra constituency by a substantial margin of over 3.83 lakh votes.
Widely regarded as a confidante of Manohar Lal Khattar, Saini’s elevation to the position of Haryana BJP chief underscores the intricate interplay of electoral calculations and caste dynamics. It is speculated that Khattar, seeking a leader from his camp to helm the state unit, strategically positioned Saini for this pivotal role.
The Saini caste, constituting approximately 8 per cent of Haryana’s population, wields considerable influence, particularly in regions spanning Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar, Ambala, Hisar, and Rewari districts. Saini’s ascent to prominence within the BJP aligns with the party’s efforts to consolidate its support base, leveraging both electoral arithmetic and caste affiliations to bolster its position in Haryana’s political milieu.
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(Inputs from agencies)
