Synopsis
In an event marked by heavy security and grand arrangements, Nayab Singh Saini took oath as the Chief Minister of Haryana in Panchkula, with 13 other ministers. The ceremony saw the attendance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and several high-ranking Union ministers and chief ministers.
PTIWith the top brass of BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, descending here, the oath-taking ceremony of Nayab Singh Saini assumed the air of a grand event. All roads leading to Dussehra ground here were chock-a-block as thousands of BJP supporters from across Haryana made their way to the ceremony.
Saini, 54, an OBC face of the party in the state, on Thursday, took oath as the chief minister of Haryana in Panchkula. A total of 13 ministers also swore beside him.
While the BJP formed the government for a third time in a row, Saini became the chief minister of Haryana for the second time.
Ahead of the BJP’s estimate of over 50,000 people turning up at the ‘Shapath Grahan Samaroh’, arrangements were made on a grand scale.
After Saini took his oath, his supporters chanted ‘Nayab Saini ko Jai Shri Ram’ and ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’.
A huge multicolour ‘pandal’ was set up to accommodate VVIP guests, which included several Union ministers, chief ministers, NDA partners and BJP workers.
Outside the venue, artists clad in traditional attire played Haryanvi folk music, featuring ‘been’ (used by snake charmers), ‘chimta’, and ‘dhol’.
Flex boards with welcome messages were set up all along the road leading to the venue in Panchkula.
Besides Modi, Union Ministers Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and J P Nadda attended the event amid heavy security.
Union Ministers Nitin Gadkari, Chirag Paswan, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel, Goa CM Pramod Sawant, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma, Nagaland CM Neiphiu Rio, Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai, Meghalaya CM Conard Sangma and Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Dhami were also present at the swearing-in.
BJP leader Tarun Chugh termed the ceremony “historic”.
Hari Ram, a Saini supporter, said he was excited at the BJP forming government for the third time.
“Under the double-engine government, Haryana will touch new heights of development,” he said.
Parking for over 7,000 vehicles was arranged near the venue.
Fourteen LED screens were installed on the ground for the people standing at a distance from the dias to witness the swearing-in of ministers.
Though a traffic advisory was issued ahead of the ceremony, many roads were choked with buses and other vehicles ferrying BJP supporters.
