New Delhi: Low profile affable BJP leader Nayab Singh Saini was sworn in as chief minister of Haryana on Thursday, on Valmiki Jayanti. He is the second OBC chief minister in the history of the state.
Politics in Haryana, always revolved around the axis of Jat -Non-Jat politics, unlike Hindi heartland states its Agada-Pichda (Upper caste and backwards) concept was not much in play.
Now after appointing Saini as Chief Minister in March this year, the BJP tried to consolidate backwards in Haryana as single grouping, unlike earlier times where they were electorally considered as a caste specific.
Out of Haryana’s total population, 40% are OBCs.
Continuing with the same strategy – the Saini was sworn in with 13 Chief Ministers which included four OBCs – Rao Narbir Singh and Aarti Rao both Yadav from Ahirwal region. The BJP swept this region by winning 11 of the 12 assembly seats.
Other two backwards in his cabinet are – Rajesh Nagar and Ranbir Gangwa.
Besides them there are ministers from SC category – Krishan Lal Panwar and Krishan Bedi. After performing below par in Lok Sabha polls, the BJP was looking to win back SC votes, and the messaging was visible in the choice of the day – Valmiki Jayanti.
Sage-poet Valmiki is the author of the Hindu epic Ramayana and a revered figure, especially among Dalits.
Besides them other ministers in the Saini cabinet are Anil Vij (Punjabi), Mahipal Dhanda (Jat), Shruti Choudhry (Jat), Arvind Sharma (Brahmin), Gaurav Gautam (Brahmin), Vipul Goel (Baniya) and Shyam Singh Rana (Rajput).
In the selection of ministers, it has been ensured that representation is given to various regions within Haryana including Ahirwal, GT road belt and the Faridabad-Palwal region.
Thousands of people packed into the Dussehra Ground in Panchkula to watch Governor Bandaru Dattatreya administer the oath of office to Saini and 13 others.
The prime minister congratulated Saini and his ministerial colleagues on their swearing-in and described the team as a wonderful mix of good governance and experience.
