BJP’s OBC leader Nayab Singh Saini took oath as the new Chief Minister of Haryana on Thursday. His swearing-in ceremony in Panchkula was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other BJP stalwarts and NDA allies.
Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya administered the oath of office and secrecy to Saini, who became the Chief Minister of the state for the second time.
Union minister and BJP president JP Nadda, and Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Chirag Paswan and Rajiv Ranjan Singh attended the ceremony. Chief ministers of various BJP-ruled states, including Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, were also part of the ceremony.
Saini cabinet ministers including veteran BJP leader Anil Vij also took oath at the ceremony.
Haryana now has a maximum of 14 ministers including the Chief Minister.
The day chosen by the BJP for the swearing-in ceremony is significant as it coincides with Valmiki Jayanti. The sage-poet is the author of the Hindu epic Ramayana and is a revered figure, especially among Dalits.
Before the ceremony, Naib Saini visited Valmiki Bhawan, a gurudwara and offered prayers at the Mansa Devi temple in Panchkula.
While talking to journalists, Saini said that the new BJP government will work to take Haryana forward at a fast pace under the leadership of PM Modi.
haryana election results
In the October 5 assembly elections, the BJP secured an unprecedented third term in Haryana by winning 48 seats in the 90-member assembly. Congress won 37 seats.
54-year-old Saini was unanimously elected the leader of the BJP legislature party in a meeting held at the party office in Panchkula on Wednesday.
Saini, the party’s OBC face, had replaced Manohar Lal Khattar as Haryana Chief Minister in March. He won the Ladwa assembly seat in Kurukshetra district by a margin of 16,054 votes.
