Nayab Singh Saini Set To Be Back At Haryana's Helm After BJP Hat-trick

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

OBC leader Nayab Singh Saini is on Thursday set to take over as Chief Minister of Haryana for the second time as the BJP swept to power in the state for the third consecutive time.

Chandigarh, Oct 17: OBC leader Nayab Singh Saini is on Thursday set to take over as Chief Minister of Haryana for the second time as the BJP swept to power in the state for the third consecutive time.

Saini was elected the BJP's Legislature Party leader in a meeting on Wednesday, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav present as Central observers. Subsequently, he called on Governor Bandaru Dattatreya and staked his claim to form the government.

The swearing-in ceremony, in Panchkula, was specially scheduled to be held on Valmiki Jayanti on Thursday and will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states.

Saini's oath ceremony coincides with Valmiki Jayanti. This strategic choice of occasion aims to underscore a renewed commitment to the Dalit community, who were reportedly instrumental in the party's recent historic victory in the state.

Valmiki Jayanti, celebrated as "Pargat Diwas" by the Valmiki community, honours the revered author of the Ramayana.

By choosing this date for the swearing-in ceremony, the BJP sends a clear message of inclusivity and respect to Dalits. The move reinforces the party’s efforts to bridge any gaps that may have emerged during the recent general elections.

Political analysts say that the "BJP's electoral strategy is not just reactive but proactive".

Acknowledging that apprehensions about Constitutional amendments and the potential abolition of reservations contributed to its challenges in the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP is doubling down on outreach to the Dalit community.

Both the RSS and the BJP see the recent emphasis on caste-centric politics by the Rahul Gandhi-led Opposition as a "conspiracy to divide Hindus".

This sentiment was echoed in what both RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat and Prime Minister Modi remarked in their speeches recently.

On Wednesday, Saini was unanimously elected as the leader of the BJP Legislature Party leader and staked claims to form the government.

Saini, 54, will take oath as the Chief Minister at Parade Ground in Sector-5 in Panchkula in the presence of Prime Minister Modi, Union Minister Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, besides Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states.

Three Independent MLAs -- Savitri Jindal, Devendra Kadyan and Rajesh Doon -- have also extended their support to Saini.

After being chosen as leader of the BJP legislative party, Saini said: "The people of Haryana have placed their faith in the policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and formed the BJP government for the third time and the people have resolved to carry forward the vision of Prime Minister Modi to make India developed by 2047."

Saini’s nomination as the legislature party leader was proposed by MLAs Krishan Kumar Bedi and Anil Vij.

The BJP won the Assembly elections for the third straight time fighting anti-incumbency, winning 48 seats in the 90-seat assembly. The Congress won 37 seats, while the INLD secured two and three Independents were elected.

All three Independent MLAs have extended unconditional support to the government.

Nayab Singh Saini was appointed Chief Minister of Haryana in March after Manohar Lal Khattar resigned from the position ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

--IANS

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Doors Always Open For Common Man, Says Haryana CM-Designate

by Pabitra Mohan Senapaty

Panchkula, Oct 17: Ahead of taking the oath of office, Haryana Chief Minister-designate Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday offered prayers at Valmiki Temple here on the occasion of Maharishi Valmiki Jayanti and reiterated that his doors are open round the clock and common man can approach him with their issues.

"This morning, I met nearly 150 people at my residence before coming to the temple," he told the media after paying obeisance at Valmiki Temple, his first public engagement.

From the day he took over the reins of Haryana in March this year, a low-profile Other Backward Class (OBC) leader Saini has kept his house open for the public and he has been known as, "Saini mera banda hai" (Saini is my man, I know him).

When asked about his electioneering assertion that 'charpais', eco-friendly cots, would be kept at his official residence in Chandigarh for the visiting public, Saini jokingly replied, "They ('charpais') are already placed."

Saini was brought in March this year to counter the anti-incumbency wave against incumbent Manohar Lam Khattar for his nine-and-a-half-year helm. In his 56 days of governance, Saini claimed to have done so much development that Congress leader Bhupinder Hooda did in 10 years as the Chief Minister.

"In 56 days, I have taken 126 historic decisions for Haryana's development," CM Saini had said in his election campaigns.

A confidant of Khattar, Saini entered politics almost 30 years ago. He was elected as an MLA from Naraingarh in the 2014 Assembly polls and inducted into the Cabinet in 2016.

Seven-time legislator Anil Vij and six-time maker Krishan Lal Panwar, a prominent Dali face, have been contacted for the oath-taking ceremony, indicating their inclusion in the Council of Ministers. Alongside them, several other prominent leaders like Rao Narbir, Aarti Rao, Krishan Bedi, Vipul Goel and Ranbir Gangwa have also been informed about their induction into the Cabinet.

The oath-taking ceremony here will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and several Union Ministers, including Rajnath Singh and J. P. Nadda, who is also the BJP national president. Besides, there will be all 20 Chief Ministers of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and their deputies, a mega political gathering in the run-up to Assembly polls in Maharashtra and Jharkhand.

Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya will administer the oath of office and secrecy to Saini and his Council of Ministers, likely 10, with three slots that BJP is likely to keep vacant.

--IANS

Vistara Flight Receives Security Threat On Social Media; Safety Protocols Taken

by Shambhu Datta Mishra

New Delhi, Oct 17: A Vistara flight UK 028 from Frankfurt to Mumbai operating October 16 had received a security threat on social media.

Relevant authorities were immediately informed after the received threat necessary safety protocols were taken, said an official statement from the Airline.

The flight after landing at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport was taken to the isolation bay where all passengers were disembarked, as per a Vistara spokesperson.

"Vistara flight UK 028 operating from Frankfurt to Mumbai on 16 October 2024 was subject to a security threat received on social media. As per protocol, all relevant authorities were immediately informed. The aircraft safely landed at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai, and was taken to the isolation bay where all customers were disembarked. We are fully cooperating with the security agencies to complete the mandatory security checks. At Vistara, the safety and security of our customers, crew, and aircraft is of utmost importance to us," the Vistara Spokesperson said.

On October 16, with the growing number of calls claiming a threat to flights in the recent past, the Central Government decided to double the number of sky marshals on the flights originating from the airports across the country.

A senior official from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) confirmed that the decision to double the number of Air marshals has been taken recently after assessment of the growing threat and getting inputs from intelligence agencies.

"The fresh batch of Air Marshals will be deployed on new international routes added in sensitive category based on intelligence report. The decision was taken after several rounds of meetings will all stakeholders in aviation security," the officer added.

A unit of the National Security Guard (NSG) specialized in anti-terror and anti-hijacking measures is deployed as Air marshals in mainly international routes and a few sensitive domestic routes. Sky Marshals are armed plainclothes security officers who travel on passenger aircraft.

In India, Sky Marshals or flight marshals were introduced in 1999 after the hijacking of the flight Air India IC 814 in Kandahar to prevent hijacking in the future.