Nayab Singh Saini was born in the small village of Mizapur Majra near Ambala, Haryana, India on 25 January 1970 in a HaryanviMali family.[5][6] Saini, originally belongs to Mangoli Jattan village of Kurukshetra, though his family shifted to Mirzapur in Ambala district a long time ago.[7][8]
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 (farmers’ front). He became an active member of BJP’s Ambala youth wing, and he was recognized by Manohar Lal Khattar.[4]
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.[10] 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.[7]
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.[13][14]
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.[15]
In October 2024, Saini won the Haryana Assembly Election from Ladwa seat (Kurukshetra district)[16] and also became the second time Chief Minister of Haryana on 17th October 2024.[17] 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 (SC) voters, through new development schemes [18].
Developmental initiatives as CM (2024 onwards)
Hike in expenditure limit of Gram Panchayats
For a long period, the Sarpanch Associations of Haryana demanded that the expenditure limit of the Gram Panchayats should be increased as it becomes difficult to implement various developmental initiatives in the villages due to fund crunch. Going by the demands, Saini government in July 2024 implemented the government resolution of increasing the expenditure limit of the Gram Panchayats to implement various developmental initiatives in the villages. The hike in expenditure limit was made from ₹ 5 lakh to ₹ 21 lakh, which enabled Panchayats to garner enough funds without floating e-tenders.[19]
Reduction of tariff on electricity
Saini government also abolished the minimum charges that were levied on state's electricity consumers and announced that after the abolition, the electricity bill to be paid by the consumers will be solely based on units of electricity consumed. Saini also launched a state subsidy scheme under "Pradhan Mantri Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojna". Under this scheme, Rs 60,000 was sanctioned by central government, for setting up a rooftop solar plant for poor families having an annual income of less than Rs 1,80,000. Saini government thus planned an additional subsidy of Rs 50,000 from the state's exchequer. Since, the cost of installing a rooftop solar plant then was Rs 1,10,000, Saini administration planned to set up these plants completely from the expenses of central and state government, putting no financial burden on the citizens.[20]
Affordable housing scheme
In July 2024, the state cabinet of Haryana under CM Saini launched two affordable housing schemes, one for urban poor and another for rural poor. The housing scheme for urban poor from the Economically Weaker Sections of society was called "Mukhyamantri Seheri Awas Yojna". As per this scheme, the poor families having annual income of up to ₹ 1.80 lakh were eligible for the financial assistance of 1.5 lakh provided by state government for building their own pucca house. The scheme provided 30 square yard plot for each beneficiary family as well to construct their houses.[21][22]
^"Why did BJP suddenly changed its chief minister in Haryana". 16 March 2024. Archived from the original on 8 May 2024. Retrieved 8 May 2024. Saini, the sitting MP from Kurukshetra in Haryana and the BJP's state president, is the tallest OBC leader in BJP's Haryana unit. The Saini community comprises 8% of the population of the state and exercises political influence in the districts of Kurukshetra, Yamunanagar, Ambala, Hisar and Rewari. "The Saini caste hails from the traditional Mali community of horticulturists, florists and farmers," SK Chahal, Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences, Kurukshetra University, told Scroll. "The community is spread across the country, particularly within the agrarian classes in north India
