New Haryana Government to Take Oath on October 17, PM Modi to Attend Ceremony
Chandigarh – The new Haryana government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is all set to be sworn in on October 17, 2024, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The ceremony will mark the formal beginning of the BJP’s third consecutive term in the state, following its sweeping victory in the recent elections.
The swearing-in will be held at the Dussehra ground in Panchkula, near the state capital, Chandigarh, at 10 A.M. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Chief Ministers from other BJP-ruled states are expected to attend the grand event. The BJP has once again chosen Panchkula for the oath-taking ceremony, the same venue where the party first formed the government in 2014 under Manohar Lal Khattar.
Nayab Singh Saini, the caretaker Chief Minister who led the party through the high-stakes election campaign, is expected to take the oath as Chief Minister for the second time. The final date for the ceremony was set after Saini’s meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Friday night. Initially, the event was planned for October 15, but it was rescheduled to October 17 to accommodate Prime Minister Modi’s availability.
In his remarks following the announcement, Saini expressed his gratitude to the people of Haryana for their continued support. “We are thankful for the people’s faith in us, and as promised before the elections, we will release the results of the 25,000 appointments soon, even before the oath-taking ceremony,” Saini stated. His government’s pre-election commitment to create jobs remains a top priority as the party gears up to start its third term.
During a press briefing on Friday, Saini took the opportunity to criticize the opposition Congress party, accusing them of being steeped in corruption and dynastic politics. He pointed to the party’s failure to maintain its credibility in recent elections in Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and elsewhere. “The Congress has consistently deceived the people in various states, and their losses reflect that. Haryana voters have rejected their outdated politics,” Saini remarked.
The upcoming swearing-in ceremony is expected to be a major political event, with a 10-member committee led by the Panchkula District Commissioner working to ensure smooth arrangements. The state is also preparing for the presence of dignitaries from across the country, with tight security measures being put in place.
Saini, who led the BJP to a landslide victory by winning 48 out of 90 seats in the Haryana Assembly, met with Prime Minister Modi and senior BJP leaders in Delhi earlier this week. The BJP’s success came despite a decade-long anti-incumbency factor, making the victory even more significant. The Congress, which won 37 seats, fell short, while the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) managed only two seats. Independent candidates who secured three seats have already extended unconditional support to the BJP, solidifying the party’s majority.
Meanwhile, the BJP Legislature Party is expected to meet a day before the ceremony to formally elect Saini as the Chief Minister. Although Saini, a non-Jat leader from the Other Backward Classes (OBC) community, is the frontrunner for the top post, other names, including senior BJP leader Anil Vij and Dalit lawmakers Krishan Lal Panwar and Krishan Bedi, are also being considered for significant cabinet roles.
The composition of the new cabinet is anticipated to reflect the party’s commitment to inclusivity, with potential ministers coming from diverse backgrounds. First-time legislators like Arti Rao, daughter of Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh, and Shruti Chaudhry, daughter of Rajya Sabha member Kiran Chaudhry, are among the prospective women ministers. Arti Rao, an OBC leader, and Shruti Chaudhry, from the Jat community, represent the growing influence of women leaders in the state’s political landscape.
As Haryana prepares for a new chapter under BJP leadership, the October 17 swearing-in ceremony is expected to reinforce the party’s vision for growth and development in the state. With Prime Minister Modi’s presence lending weight to the occasion, all eyes will be on Panchkula as the BJP once again takes the reins of the state government.
