Haryana: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Nayab Singh Saini took the oath of office as Haryana’s Chief Minister on Thursday, marking a significant moment for the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and 13 other Chief Ministers from the NDA coalition.
Alongside Saini, several ministers, including prominent figure Anil Vij, were also sworn in during the event. The ceremony coincided with Valmiki Jayanti, celebrating the birth anniversary of Maharishi Valmiki, the author of the Hindu epic Ramayana.
In the recent Haryana Assembly elections, the BJP secured 48 out of 90 seats, while the Congress improved its standing with 37 seats. Independents claimed 3 seats, and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) won 2. Despite favorable exit polls for the Congress, the BJP triumphed under Saini’s leadership.
To maintain momentum following the electoral success, the NDA is set to convene a meeting of all chief ministers and deputy chief ministers from the coalition later on Thursday. This meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Modi, is strategically timed ahead of upcoming Assembly elections in Maharashtra and Jharkhand.
Attendees will include Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and BJP President JP Nadda, among others. The meeting will focus on India’s development and commemorate the Constitution, marking the “50th anniversary of the attempt to murder democracy,” a reference to the Emergency period, which is perceived as a direct challenge to the Congress and the opposition INDIA alliance. The BJP currently holds 13 chief minister and 16 deputy chief minister positions across various states.