Nayab Singh Saini: How a low-profile leader stole the limelight in Haryana political arena

PTC News Desk: Nayab Singh Saini will be the new chief minister of Haryana. As the state of Haryana turns saffron, Saini has been chosen as the leader of the BJP legislative party during a meeting held in Panchkula on Wednesday. Man of the hour is nobody but Nayab Singh Saini who is all set to take oath as chief minister of Haryana for second consecutive term. 

But who is Nayab Singh Saini? And how did he pull of Mission Haryana?

Saini's gradual rise in the party accounts to his close association with Manohar Lal Khattar, who was also a member of RSS as a loyal swayamsevak. He joined the BJP with ML Khattar in 1994. Born on January 25,1970, Saini hails from Mirzapur Majra village in Ambala district. He earned his BA degree from the BR Ambedkar Bihar University in Muzaffarpur and a law degree from Chaudhary Charan Singh University in Meerut and began his association with both the BJP and its ideological parent, the RSS in 1996. Quietly churning through the ranks, he was appointed the general secretary of the BJP’s Yuva Morcha in 2002, and became the president of the same unit by 2005. Not to mention, Manohar Lal Khattar is one name who is fondly being associated for his later political ascent. 

After being defeated in 2009 assembly elections, five years later BJP rode to power and Saini was elected from Naraingarh defeating incumbent MLA Ram Kishan by over 24,000 votes. Owing to his close association with Khattar, he also secured ministerial berth. His biggest poll success accounts to 2019 when he was elected to Lok Sabha from Kurukshetra. Despite his role as sitting MP, he wasn't much noticeable.  Later in October 2023, Saini managed to secure the Haryana BJP chief position replacing heavyweight Om Dhankar with party's efforts to strengthen its hold over the OBC community and non-Jats.

The Saini community which the designate chief minister is from form close to 8 % population Haryana. The Sainis themselves are particularly considered influential in northern Haryana in districts such as Ambala, Kurukshetra, Hisar and Rewari. 

Political ascent in Haryana

Political picture in Haryana turned upside down with BJP replaced Khattar with Saini with just 2 month before Lok Sabha Polls. The BJP's change of guards in Haryana resulted in positive outcome when the saffron party secured third consecutive term in the state in assembly elections which no party could ever hold in the past. However, the move, it seemed, didn’t help the BJP in the general elections. The party suffered a setback winning just five of the 10 seats. Many fingers were pointed at Saini accounting him for the loss. Meanwhile Saini chose not to get swayed by the electoral defeat and starting working painstakingly in order to make sure the election tide turns in the direction of BJP.