Nayab Singh Saini
Nayab Singh Saini is an Indian politician serving as the chief minister of Haryana from 2024. Saini is one of the top leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party in Haryana.
Saini was appointed as the chief minister of the state in March 2024, succeeding Manohar Lal Khattar, continuing in office for the remainder of the term in the fourteenth assembly. He was reappointed as the chief minister for the second term after he led the BJP to victory in the 2024 [Haryana Legislative Assembly election]. Saini himself won from Ladwa Assembly constituency of Kurukshetra district, defeating the incumbent Mewa Singh of Indian National Congress, and the BJP formed the government for the third consecutive term.
Previously, he was president of Haryana state unit of Bharatiya Janata Party from 2023 till 2024. Earlier, Saini served as the Member of parliament from Kurukshetra Lok Sabha constituency, Haryana, from 2019 to 2024. Before that, he was a member of the Haryana Legislative Assembly from Naraingarh Assembly constituency from 2014 to 2019. He served as the Minister of State in Government of Haryana from 2015 to 2019. Coming from a Other Backward Class background, Saini joined the BJP party unit in Ambala and steadily rose through the ranks, often working closely with party leader, Manohar Lal Khattar.
Early life and education
Nayab Singh Saini was born in the small village of Mizapur Majra near Ambala, Haryana, India on 25 January 1970 in a Saini family. Saini, originally belongs to Mangoli Jattan village of Kurukshetra, though his family shifted to Mirzapur in Ambala district a long time ago.Saini is a law graduate and did his LLB degree from Chaudhary Charan Singh University, Meerut. Earlier, he did his B.A. degree from B. R. Ambedkar B. University, Muzaffarpur.
Political career
Early career: Pre-2014 (Ambala youth wing)
Saini joined the BJP party unit in Ambala. Initially, he started working as a computer operator in the BJP's Ambala party office and eventually became the general secretary of Haryana BJP's Kisan Morcha. He became an active member of BJP's Ambala youth wing, and he was recognized by Manohar Lal Khattar.Saini also became a supporter of cow protectionism in Haryana like several other leaders of BJP-RSS background, noting that the ordinary people of Haryana have deep respect for the cow, though he condemned any lynching incident. He contested the election in Naraingarh constituency of Ambala district in 2010 but was defeated by Ramkishan Gurjar. While he lost his first election, he was becoming recognized as an OBC face in the BJP's Ambala unit.
Mid Career: 2014 -2023 (MLA & MP)
In 2014, Saini contested the Haryana state elections from Naraingarh Assembly constituency as a BJP candidate and won the MLA election by 24,361 votes to become a member of the Haryana Legislative Assembly from Naraingarh Assembly constituency from 2014 to 2019. He served as the Minister of State, Government of Haryana from 2015 to 2019.In 2019 Indian general election he was elected as Member of Parliament from Kurukshetra. In 2023, he was appointed the president of the Haryana unit of the BJP.
Prime Career 2024 onwards (Chief Ministership)
Saini, who was the president of BJP state unit was declared the new Chief Minister of Haryana on 12 March 2024 after incumbent Manohar Lal Khattar resigned as Chief Minister before 2024 Lok Sabha election.After the resignation of Manohar Lal Khattar, Saini was elected as the Leader of BJP's Legislative Party and subsequently took oath as the Chief Minister of Haryana..
In October 2024, Saini won the Haryana Assembly Election from Ladwa seat and also became the second time Chief Minister of Haryana on 17 October 2024. According to political analysts, the elevation of Nayab Singh Saini as Chief Minister in March 2024 helped BJP win the 2024 Haryana elections, as the party was able to consolidate the votes from the OBC community, while and also gaining some Scheduled Caste voters, through new development schemes.