Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini meets PM Modi, gets backing of Jindal, 2 others

The BJP received a shot in the arm when businesswoman Savitri Jindal, elected from Hisar as an independent candidate, announced her support to the party. Two other independents, Devender Kadian (Ganaur) and Rajesh Joon (Bahadurgarh), have also offered support to the BJP which won 48 seats in the 90-member House – with the support of the three independents, the BJP can now count on 51 legislators.

Jindal offered her support after a meeting with Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and former Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb. Mother of BJP’s Kurukshetra MP Naveen Jindal, Savitri Jindal is the chairperson of the OP Jindal Group.

BJP leaders indicated that the swearing-in ceremony would take place on Dussehra on Saturday. “We are planning a grand victory ceremony on the occasion of the swearing-in ceremony. Panchkula’s Tau Devi Lal Stadium and Parade Ground Sector-5 are among the venue options,” a senior BJP leader told The Indian Express.

Saini described his meeting with the Prime Minister as a courtesy call. “I told Pradhan Mantri ji about the landslide victory of the BJP in Haryana. I told him that the people of Haryana have a lot of affection for you which resulted in the formation of the double-engine government in Haryana for the third time.”

Asked about the oath-taking ceremony, he said, “I don’t know about it. Our parliamentary board will decide this. The parliamentary board’s decision will be acceptable to all. The legislature group of the party will elect its leader.”

On the issue of Congress questioning the EVMs, Saini said, “The survey reports were one-sided and in favour of the Congress. The Congress was propagating such an environment that they have come to power. In the past 10 years, we have done a lot of work under the leadership of Modi ji. On that basis, I had stated that there would be a one-sided victory of the BJP with a big mandate which the people of Haryana have proved.”

Alleging that the Congress has been insulting Dalits, he said, “Congress did not respect the Dalits ever. The Congress has been insulting Dalits. They did not give honour to Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar. The Congress insulted him and the Constitution. Their lies have worked in Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka and Telangana. Now, their lies will not work. Their lies were rejected in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Now, the people of Haryana have shown them the door.”