Nayab Saini Likely To Take Oath As Haryana Chief Minister On 15 October: Report

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is all set to form its third consecutive government in Haryana, with the swearing-in ceremony expected to take place on 15 October.

A committee of 10 members, led by the Panchkula District Commissioner, has been established by the Haryana chief secretary to oversee the arrangements for the swearing-in ceremony.

Ahead of his likely swearing-in as the Chief Minister of Haryana following the BJP's electoral victory, Nayab Saini met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other senior BJP leaders in Delhi on Wednesday (9 October).

On Thursday, Saini also held discussions with Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who was BJP’s election in-charge for Haryana, in New Delhi.

During the election campaign, the BJP had signalled that Saini, who succeeded Manohar Lal Khattar as chief minister in March and belongs to the Other Backward Classes, would be its candidate for the chief ministerial post if the party emerged victorious.

BJP ended up with its best-ever haul of 48 seats, 11 more than the Congress. The JJP and the AAP were decimated and the INLD managed to win just two seats.

The swearing-in ceremony of the new BJP government is likely to take place after Dussehra festival, which falls on 12 October, News18 reported citing a BJP leader from Haryana.

In the recent assembly polls, eight of the 10 ministers in the outgoing Saini cabinet faced defeat in the Haryana assembly polls.

The only two who managed to retain their seats were Mahipal Dhanda from Panipat Rural and Mool Chand Sharma from Ballabhgarh.

Both Dhanda, who comes from the Jat community, and Sharma, a senior Brahmin leader, are likely to be considered for ministerial positions in the new government, News18 reported citing sources.

Haryana can have a maximum of 14 ministers, including the chief minister.

The BJP, which pulled off a hat-trick of wins by bucking anti-incumbency, made notable gains in Dalit-majority seats and Jat strongholds while maintaining its stronghold in the Ahirwal region.

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