The stage is set for new chief ministers to assume office in Haryana and Jammu & Kashmir, with significant political transitions on the horizon. The swearing-in ceremony for the new Haryana government is scheduled for October 17, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in attendance along with several chief ministers from National Democratic Alliance (NDA)-ruled states. This will mark an important occasion for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which recently secured a surprise victory in the state assembly elections.
Haryana Chief Minister-caretaker Nayab Singh Saini confirmed the date of the ceremony, while outgoing CM Manohar Lal Khattar announced in Delhi that the oath-taking event would be held in Panchkula. Though neither Khattar nor Saini explicitly confirmed who would take the oath as the new chief minister, sources suggest that Saini is likely to continue in the role, according to reports by ANI.
The BJP’s victory in Haryana, where it won 48 of the 90 seats, was unexpected. Polls had predicted a Congress win, but the BJP managed to clinch a third consecutive term in the state, with a 39.94% vote share. Analysts attribute the victory to Saini’s leadership, which helped consolidate non-Jat votes and curb anti-incumbency. Saini, an Other Backward Classes (OBC) leader, has reportedly strengthened the party’s hold in traditional Congress strongholds.
Saini has been actively engaging with the BJP leadership in New Delhi following the results, holding discussions with Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and party president JP Nadda. Discussions are ongoing regarding the position of deputy chief minister, and the party is reportedly considering new faces for this role. Notably, eight ministers from Saini’s previous government lost their re-election bids.
The swearing-in event in Panchkula is expected to attract a large audience, with around 100,000 attendees anticipated.
Meanwhile, in Jammu & Kashmir, the National Conference (NC), in alliance with Congress, is also preparing for its swearing-in ceremony. Omar Abdullah is expected to take the chief minister’s post after his meeting with the Union Territory’s Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, during which he staked his claim to form the government. The NC alliance secured 48 out of 90 seats in the assembly.
Abdullah confirmed that the oath-taking process might take a few more days due to the central government’s involvement. He explained that the Lieutenant Governor would first send the necessary documents to Rashtrapati Bhavan and then to the Union Home Ministry for approval. The swearing-in ceremony is expected to take place by Wednesday, October 18, depending on the final clearance.
Sources By Agencies
