Nayab Singh Saini takes oath as Haryana CM; 5 key points about the Kurukshetra MP

Nayab Saini

Nayab Singh Saini, the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) MP from Haryana's Kurukshetra constituency, took charge as the new chief minister of Haryana following Manohar Lal Khattar's resignation.

Saini, a close confidante of former CM Khattar, is said to have helped the BJP fortify its hold in the state within the OBC community following his appointment as the state party president last October.

A look at the new Haryana CM's political journey in five points:

>> On October 27, 2023, Nayab Singh Saini, an OBC member, and Lok Sabha MP from Haryana's Kurukshetra, was appointed the new state unit president, replacing Om Prakash Dhankar, in the run up to the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections.

>> Saini's appointment is said to have magnified the BJP's influence within the OBC community in the state. The move came at a crucial time, considering the division of support among the Jats, the most populous community in the state, among the Congress, Jannayak Janta Party, and the Indian National Lok Dal.

>> The 53-year-old MP had briefly served at Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS), establishing a close connection with former CM Khattar before eventually joining the BJP.

>> Following his election as a legislator from the Naraingarh assembly seat in Ambala during the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, he was appointed Minister of State for Labour and Employment.

>> Saini contested the Lok Sabha polls in 2019 while being a legislator from Kurukshetra as a first-time MP.

At present, the BJP has 41 MLAs in the 90-member House while the JJP has 10. The ruling combine also enjoys the support of six of seven independents.