Nayab Singh Saini is likely to get another term as Haryana chief minister as the Bharatiya Janata Party is all set to form the government for the third term after securing a comfortable win in the assembly elections.
As per the latest trends, the BJP has won or is leading in 49 seats, while the Congress in 36. Saini won Ladwa assembly seat by a margin of 16,054 votes against his nearest Congress rival Mewa Singh.
Saini was made the chief minister in March this year, replacing Manohar Lal Khattar who had led the state government for nine years before being inducted into the Union cabinet. Previously, Saini was the MP from Kurukshetra, the parliamentary constituency in which Ladwa falls.
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An NDTV report quoted state BJP leaders as saying that Saini will get another term as the chief minister.
There has been speculation about a change of guard in case the BJP wins, in view of the state's caste equations. Saini belongs to other backward classes, while most of the previous chief ministers were from the Jats community.
Speaking to reporters in Chandigarh, Saini said people have "put a stamp" on the government's policies under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
"I give full credit to Modi ji. With his blessings, under his guidance, the people of Haryana have put a stamp on the government's policies," he said.
Saini also thanked the voters and the BJP leadership for the party’s victory.
In 2019, the BJP formed the government with the support of JJP, while most Independents had also extended support. However, the alliance broke up after the BJP replaced Khattar with Saini as the chief minister in March this year.