Lagatar24 Desk
Chandigarh: Thirteen BJP MLAs were sworn in as ministers in Haryana on Thursday, showcasing a meticulously planned approach to caste and community representation as the BJP achieved an unexpected third consecutive victory in the Assembly elections. The newly formed Haryana Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Nayab Saini, reflects a conscious effort to balance the state’s diverse caste dynamics, with ministers drawn from Dalit, Brahmin, Jat, OBC, Rajput, Punjabi, and Bania communities.
The Cabinet, which includes two Dalit ministers, two Brahmins, two from the influential Jat community, four OBCs, one Rajput, one Punjabi, and one Bania, mirrors the BJP’s strategic attempt to maintain social harmony and secure electoral support across caste lines. Haryana’s government can accommodate up to 14 ministers, including the Chief Minister.
BJP leader Mahipal Dhanda, who was one of the two ministers from the previous Cabinet to retain his position, was inducted once again, while veteran leader Anil Vij, representing the Punjabi community, made his way back into the Cabinet after missing out in the first Nayab Saini-led government.
From the Dalit community, six-time MLA Krishna Lal Panwar and two-time MLA Krishna Bedi were given ministerial roles. The Brahmin representation comes from former two-time Lok Sabha MP Arvind Sharma and Palwal MLA Gaurav Gautam, who also took the oath as ministers.
Jat representation, vital to Haryana’s political landscape, saw Shruti Chaudhary, daughter of Rajya Sabha MP Kiran Chaudhary, and Panipat (Rural) MLA Mahipal Dhanda, joining the Cabinet. The BJP’s effort to split the Jat vote, traditionally leaning towards the Congress, helped the party secure 28% of the Jat electorate.
The OBC community, to which Chief Minister Nayab Saini also belongs, claimed the largest share of Cabinet posts, with Rao Narbir Singh, Aarti Rao (daughter of Union Minister Rao Indrajit), Ranbir Singh Gangwa, and Rajesh Nagar taking the oath.
Saini’s political strategy, aimed at consolidating OBC and non-Jat votes to counter the Congress’s Jat-Dalit-Muslim alliance, was instrumental in the BJP’s surprising victory.
The Rajput and Bania communities have been represented by Shayam Singh Rana and Vipul Goyal, respectively.
