Gurugram:

After gangster Rohit Godara, an associate of Goldy Brar and Lawrence Bishnoi, claimed responsibility for a crude bomb blast outside a club in Sector 29 here earlier this week, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday said there is no place for criminals in the state.

Police have already arrested one accused from the spot, and none of those responsible for the attack will be spared, the chief minister said.

Talking to mediapersons here after chairing a district public relations and grievance committee meeting, Mr Saini also said that if anyone plays with law and order, he will either land in hospital or be lodged behind bars.

At the meeting, the chief minister issued strict directions to the concerned officials to ensure cleanliness in the district to make Gurugram beautiful, saying he will examine the steps taken on this count during next month’s meeting.

A total of 23 grievances were tabled before the chief minister at the meeting. While 19 of them were resolved on the spot, Mr Saini directed the concerned officials to submit status reports of the remaining complaints at the earliest.

Taking cognisance of a complaint alleging illegal encroachment on government land at Sarai Alawardi village, the chief minister directed the municipal officials to immediately remove all illegal structures from the said land.

A community hall should be constructed on the land to provide better facilities for public events, Mr Saini said.

Hearing a case related to providing 100 square yard plots at Jatola village, Mr Saini directed the officials to ensure that all eligible beneficiaries benefit from the government scheme.

On the question of urban local body elections in Haryana, the chief minister said the government is ready for the polls which will be held soon.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

The World Bank will provide the same amount of financial assistance to Haryana in the next five years as it did in the past 50, a senior official of the global institution said on Friday.

During a meeting with the World Bank’s Country Director Auguste Tano Kouame here, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and government representatives’ discussions figured on various areas, including education, air quality management, and transport.

The World Bank team, which held a separate meeting with Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, included Nataliya Kulichenko, Programme leader, Sustainable Development India, and Anne Jeannette Glauber, Practice Manager, Environment.

Speaking to PTI on the sidelines of the meetings, Kouame, while referring to the meeting with Saini and other state government representatives, said, “In Haryana, we have a long history of engagement. We have been providing financing to Haryana since 1971. We have supported sectors such as electricity, energy, water…

“So far, we have provided one billion (dollar) financing to Haryana in the past 50 years.” Sharing details about scaling up the financing, Kouame said, “In the next five years, we will provide as much financing as we have provided in the past 50 years… I am very encouraged and quite bullish about what we can do in Haryana and help Haryana play a big role in India becoming ‘Viksit’ (developed) by 2047.” “In addition to the one billion financing we have provided directly in the form of loans to Haryana, the state has also benefited from pan-India projects that the World Bank has financed,” he said.

“The state will soon be home to a Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Centre with the assistance of the World Bank,” the Haryana government said in a statement.

“This initiative of Global AI Center is set to position Haryana as a hub for artificial intelligence research and innovation. This collaboration is expected to boost the state’s technological capabilities and contribute to the growth of the digital economy in the region,” Saini said, as quoted in the statement.

“Other area where they expressed interest is Artificial Intelligence. They are also looking Haryana to become hub for cloud computing, AI and other related aspects. They are not asking for financing at the moment, but knowledge input,” Kouame told PTI.

In agriculture, Haryana aims to achieve zero stubble burning by 2030.

As per the government statement, the Haryana Clean Air Project was also discussed.

This initiative is aimed at enhancing sustainable development in the state and improving air quality.

With a total project investment of Rs 3,647 crore, the World Bank has committed to providing a loan of Rs 2,498 crore to support the implementation of the project, the statement said.

The Haryana state government will contribute Rs 1,066 crore, and an additional Rs 83 crore has been allocated as a grant. This funding will be directed towards initiatives such as air pollution control measures, sustainable urban development, and the promotion of cleaner technologies, it said.

Kouame said, “We are also preparing a new country partnership framework for next five years which will be framed in partnership with the Ministry of Finance… it will frame how we will engage with India in the next five years, what would be the priority topics which we will support and how we will work with the Centre as well as the states.

“In that context, I was here to learn more about Haryana and Punjab’s priorities and to hear from the chief ministers. Especially as we look at 2047 when India aims to become a developed nation, how it is playing out at the state level and what are their own (state’s) ambitions,” he said.

The development of key Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) projects in Haryana, including the crucial Delhi-Gurugram corridor, were also discussed in the meeting.

“The other areas of interest which they (Haryana govt) mentioned include transport, in particular Delhi-Gurugram project that has been posed to the World Bank and to the European Investment Bank. So, it will be a jointly financed project,” Kouame said.

The state government also sought financing for a water-specific project. It could focus on irrigation or look at underground water and help build water table up. It can help improve supply of water for other uses, not just irrigation. Once the proposal is received, it will be considered in due course, he said.

Meanwhile, according to the government statement, Chief Minister Saini also expressed keen interest for collaboration with the World Bank on the ambitious interlinking of rivers project.

“The interlinking of rivers is expected to significantly improve irrigation facilities across the state and help implement the Amrit Sarovar Scheme, which aims to rejuvenate water bodies and enhance water storage capacity particularly in rural areas.

“This collaboration will ensure better water management, improve agricultural productivity, and contribute to the long-term sustainability of Haryana’s water resources,” the statement said.

Saini said “a team from Haryana will soon visit Gujarat to study the interlinking of rivers in Gujarat”.

Chief Principal Secretary to Haryana Chief Minister, Rajesh Khullar, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Arun Kumar Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department Anurag Rastogi, were among those present during the meeting.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Chandigarh:

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday announced that cataract surgeries would now be conducted free of cost at all 26 government hospitals and 15 empanelled private hospitals across the state.

In addition, Mr Saini announced the launch of tele-consultation services by specialists at PGIMS hospital, Rohtak, modelled on the successful telemedicine services at PGIMER, Chandigarh.

This service will allow the residents of the state to access consultations from medical specialists at no cost, benefiting a large number of people, particularly in rural and remote areas, said an official statement.

The number of calls being received daily in Haryana has seen a significant increase, with the average rising to 1,700 calls per day.

In a bid to further improve healthcare access and services, the state government has set an ambitious target to increase the number of calls to 7,000 per day. Currently, the total number of Outpatient Department (OPD) visits across Haryana stands at approximately 1 lakh per day.

The chief minister was presiding over a review meeting of the Health, Ayush, and Medical Education and Research Departments here.

Mr Saini emphasised that his primary goal is to make quality healthcare facilities accessible to all citizens across the state.

Haryana Health Minister Arti Singh Rao was also present at the meeting.

Meanwhile, taking stern action on a complaint against a private nursing home in Kurukshetra for allegedly charging a patient cash for treatment under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana, the chief minister ordered the suspension of the hospital’s empanelment with the scheme, effective immediately.

Mr Saini made it clear that any hospital found charging cash payments or requiring advance payment signatures from patients or their family members will have its empanelment immediately revoked.

During the meeting, he also suggested setting up a revolving fund for timely payment to the hospitals for treatment provided under the Ayushman Bharat Yojana.

Around 45 lakh eligible families are getting health cover of Rs 5 lakh per family per year. There are a total of 1,227 empanelled hospitals, including 502 public and 725 private hospitals, in the state.

Reviewing the functioning of the civil hospitals across the state, the chief minister underscored the importance of patient satisfaction as the primary goal of the healthcare system.

He directed that all doctors and paramedical staff be strictly available during their designated duty hours to ensure that patients do not face undue delays in receiving care.

Mr Saini further emphasised the need for improved communication and patient support. In this regard, he directed that a toll-free helpline number be established in all civil hospitals to provide timely assistance and address any concerns or grievances from the patients.

The chief minister said that 777 medical officers would be recruited in the state before December 31 with a view to further strengthen the healthcare system and meet the demand of doctors.

Besides, to further strengthen rural health infrastructure, 825 health facilities, including 718 Sub Health Centres (SHC), 82 Primary Health Centres (PHC) and 25 Community Health Centres (CHCs), would be established in a phased manner.

Mr Saini directed that a Digital Inventory Portal linked with ‘CM Dashboard’ be established on a priority basis. The portal will provide real-time information on the availability of medical equipment such as ICUs, ultrasound machines, X-ray machines, CT scanners and more.

The Digital Inventory Portal will also help track the daily utilization of these services, ensuring better resource management and service delivery.

Reviewing the functioning of the Ayush Department, Mr Saini directed that the construction of the AYUSH University in Kurukshetra, being developed at an estimated cost of Rs 1,296.09 crore, be expedited.

He also emphasised the need to promote and propagate AYUSH practices across the state. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Chandigarh:

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini kept key departments, including home and finance, while Anil Vij got energy and transport as portfolios were allocated to the Council of Ministers on Sunday, three days after the swearing-in of a new government in the state.

Mr Saini will handle 12 portfolios. Besides home and finance, he is also in charge of planning, excise and taxation, town and country planning and urban estates, information, public relations, language and culture, criminal investigation, law and legislative, and housing for all departments.

Mr Vij, who held the home portfolio when Manohar Lal Khattar was the chief minister, has now also been given the charge of the labour department, in addition to energy and transport.

The health department, which Mr Vij handled during the Khattar government, has now been allotted to Arti Singh Rao, who will also take care of the medical education and research and Ayush departments, said a government order issued late in the night here.

Mr Saini (54) took oath as the chief minister of Haryana at a grand ceremony in Panchkula on Thursday that was attended by a galaxy of NDA leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and thousands of people from across the state.

Apart from him, 13 MLAs, including two women, took oath.

Rao Narbir Singh has been allotted industries and commerce, environment, forests and wildlife departments while Mahipal Dhanda got the school education department.

Vipul Goel has been allotted revenue and disaster management, urban local bodies and the civil aviation departments while Arvind Sharma will handle jails and cooperation portfolios.

Shyam Singh Rana will take care of the agriculture and farmers welfare department while Ranbir Gangwa will handle public health engineering. Krishan Kumar Bedi has social justice, empowerment, and SCs and BCs welfare departments while the women and child development portfolio will be handled by Shruti Choudhry.

Among other Ministers, Krishan Lal Panwar has been allocated development and panchayats, and mines and geology departments.

Minister of State (Independent Charge) Rajesh Nagar has been allocated food, civil supplies and consumer affairs while Minister of State Gaurav Gautam (Independent Charge) will handle youth empowerment and entrepreneurship, and sports departments.

The Governor of Haryana, on the advice of the chief minister, has allocated portfolios to the members of the Council of Ministers, the order said.

The BJP has won 48 out of 90 seats in the October 5 Haryana Assembly polls. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Chandigarh:

OBC leader Nayab Singh Saini is on Thursday set to take over as Chief Minister of Haryana for the second time as the BJP swept to power in the state for the third consecutive time.

Mr Saini was elected the BJP’s Legislature Party leader in a meeting on Wednesday, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav present as Central observers. Subsequently, he called on Governor Bandaru Dattatreya and staked his claim to form the government.

The swearing-in ceremony, in Panchkula, was specially scheduled to be held on Valmiki Jayanti on Thursday and will be attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states.

Mr Saini’s oath ceremony coincides with Valmiki Jayanti. This strategic choice of occasion aims to underscore a renewed commitment to the Dalit community, who were reportedly instrumental in the party’s recent historic victory in the state.

Valmiki Jayanti, celebrated as “Pargat Diwas” by the Valmiki community, honours the revered author of the Ramayana.

By choosing this date for the swearing-in ceremony, the BJP sends a clear message of inclusivity and respect to Dalits. The move reinforces the party’s efforts to bridge any gaps that may have emerged during the recent general elections.

Political analysts say that the “BJP’s electoral strategy is not just reactive but proactive”.

Acknowledging that apprehensions about Constitutional amendments and the potential abolition of reservations contributed to its challenges in the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP is doubling down on outreach to the Dalit community.

Both the RSS and the BJP see the recent emphasis on caste-centric politics by the Rahul Gandhi-led Opposition as a “conspiracy to divide Hindus”.

This sentiment was echoed in what both RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat and Prime Minister Modi remarked in their speeches recently.

On Wednesday, Mr Saini was unanimously elected as the leader of the BJP Legislature Party leader and staked claims to form the government.

Mr Saini, 54, will take oath as the Chief Minister at Parade Ground in Sector-5 in Panchkula in the presence of Prime Minister Modi, Union Minister Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, besides Chief Ministers of BJP-ruled states.

Three Independent MLAs — Savitri Jindal, Devendra Kadyan and Rajesh Doon — have also extended their support to Mr Saini.

After being chosen as leader of the BJP legislative party, Mr Saini said: “The people of Haryana have placed their faith in the policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and formed the BJP government for the third time and the people have resolved to carry forward the vision of Prime Minister Modi to make India developed by 2047.”

Mr Saini’s nomination as the legislature party leader was proposed by MLAs Krishan Kumar Bedi and Anil Vij.

The BJP won the Assembly elections for the third straight time fighting anti-incumbency, winning 48 seats in the 90-seat assembly. The Congress won 37 seats, while the INLD secured two and three Independents were elected.

All three Independent MLAs have extended unconditional support to the government.

Nayab Singh Saini was appointed Chief Minister of Haryana in March after Manohar Lal Khattar resigned from the position ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Chandigarh:

A man has been arrested for allegedly giving a “death threat” to the Haryana chief minister in a WhatsApp group in Julana, police said on Saturday.

The accused was identified as Ajmer, a native of Deverar village of Jind district.

Jind Superintendent of Police Sumit Kumar said Ajmer made a death threat on October 8, the day of vote counting in the state, in a WhatsApp group.

“As soon as the matter came to the notice of the police, an FIR was registered and Ajmer was arrested,” he said.

Congress candidate and wrestler Vinesh Phogat won the Julana assembly seat, defeating her nearest rival and BJP nominee Yogesh Kumar by a margin of 6,015 votes.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

New Delhi:

Nayab Singh Saini will be sworn in as the Chief Minister of Haryana at 10 am October 17, in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and senior leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party, including Mr Saini’s counterparts from other BJP-ruled states, sources said Saturday.

This will be Mr Saini’s second term; his first began March after Manohar Lal Khattar quit to contest the Lok Sabha election. Mr Saini was seen then as a surprise pick to head the party in the heartland state, particularly with a general and Assembly election on the horizon.

Following the election there was speculation – and amid rumours of an ineffective government and in view of caste equations – he would be replaced, but BJP sources said that having played a key role in the party’s big win, Mr Saini would be given a second shot.

He was first picked for this post about 200 days before the election; his selection was prompted partly by Mr Khattar standing down (and getting a Lok Sabha seat in exchange) and also the BJP’s traditional pre-poll leadership shuffle to ward of anti-incumbency.

READ | BJP To Stay With Nayab Saini As Haryana Chief Minister: Sources

Some state leaders argued for Mr Saini, saying he had implemented schemes meant to benefit traders, youths, backward classes and government employees, turning around the anti-incumbency accumulated over the years against Mr Khattar’s government.

The next step for the BJP will be deciding the Haryana Cabinet.

There can be a maximum of 14 ministers, including the Chief Minister. That leaves 13 positions, of which the BJP will need at least 11 new faces because only Mahipal Dhanda and Mool Chand Sharma, from the first Saini government, managed to retain their seats.

Balancing caste equations and communities’ demands while forming a government is not easy, but the BJP has done successfully in the recent past, and it will have to be done again in Haryana.

READ | After Haryana Win, Caste Equations That May Influence BJP’s Cabinet Picks

The BJP recorded an (ultimately) convincing victory in the 2024 Haryana Assembly election, counting for which was held on Tuesday. Exit polls predicted a clear win for the Congress and the opposition party raced into an early lead. But by 10 am the tables had turned.

The BJP eventually won 48 of the state’s 90 seats for a historic third straight Assembly election victory; Haryana had never before elected the same party three times running.

The Congress finished with 37 seats – six more than it won in 2014 but a poor return considering the party was supposed to win at least 55, well over the majority mark of 46.

READ | “First Time In Haryana A Party Is Coming Back For 3rd Term”: PM

Speaking in Delhi after the Haryana election win, Prime Minister Modi lavished praise on party workers and followers and lashed out at the Congress, which he called, among other things, a “parasitic party” that wins only when powered by its alliance partner.

READ | “Arrogant, Overconfident”: Allies Twist Knife On Congress’ Haryana Loss

The Congress has come under heavy fire from its INDIA bloc allies after the Haryana election win, with the Shiv Sena (UBT) particularly scathing. The Congress and the Thackeray Sena are expected to contest next month’s Maharashtra election together.

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New Delhi:

The business of winning a historic third consecutive election completed, the Bharatiya Janata Party has now switched focus to forming the new Haryana government, specifically the constitution of a cabinet with a nod to caste equations in the heartland state. 

The party’s 48 newly elected lawmakers are expected to meet later today, but it is the central leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on which all eyes rest.

There can be a maximum of 14 ministers in the Haryana government including Chief Minister-elect Nayab Singh Saini, who met Mr Modi at his residence in Delhi Wednesday. 

Sources told NDTV the BJP has already sanctioned a second (and first full) term for Mr Saini.

READ | BJP To Stay With Nayab Saini As Haryana Chief Minister: Sources

So that leaves 13 open positions, of which the BJP will have to look for 11 new faces because only Mahipal Dhanda and Mool Chand Sharma, have retained their seats.

Balancing caste equations and communities’ demands while forming a government is not an easy task, but it is one the BJP has done successfully in the recent past; in December last year, after winning the Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh elections, the party took its time to announce chief ministers and cabinets, consulting MLAs and state leaders.

NDTV Explains | BJP’s 2024 Gameplan Behind Hattrick Of Heartland Surprises

Similar measures will likely be necessary in Haryana, where the BJP now has nine MLAs from the Dalit community, eight with Punjabi origins, seven Brahmins, and six each from the Jats and the Yadavs. The party now also has Gurjars, Rajputs, Vaishyas, and an OBC leader.

The BJP has nine Dalit MLAs in this government, two of whom are at the forefront. One is six-time MLA Krishna Lal Panwar and the other is two-time MLA Krishna Bedi.

Among the eight with Punjabi origins is seven-time MLA and ex-Home Minister Anil Vij, who sulked in March after he was not made Chief Minister; this was after then Chief-Minister Manohar Lal Khattar stepped down following his nomination to a Lok Sabha seat.

Last month Mr Vij, who won his Ambala Cantonment seat, threw his hat into that ring for a third time but was again passed over, and that might create a bit of a problem for the party.

READ | BJP’s Anil Vij Says Will Stake Claim For Haryana Chief Minister Post

Then there is Jind MLA Krishnan Middha, who won his seat for a third straight time.

Another now three-time MLA is Ghanshyam Das Arora from Yamunanagar, but his appointment may be skipped since his seat lies within the Ambala region.

Mr Arora may be passed over for Vinod Bhayana, the three-time MLA from Hansi.

Then there are the Brahmins. 

Among them is three-time MLA from Ballabgarh Mool Chand Sharma, who will likely be retained in the Cabinet. Another possible is two-time Lok Sabha MP Arvind Sharma who won Gohana, and Ram Gautam, who delivered Safidon, which the BJP had never won.

The key for the BJP are six MLAs from the Ahirwal belt that voted, once again, overwhelmingly for the party. That support was crucial this time to defeat the Congress.

Among them is six-time MLA Rao Narbir Singh from Badhsahpur; he was not in the first Saini government but was in that headed by Mr Khattar after the 2014 election win.

Aarti Rao, the daughter of veteran junior Union Minister Rao Indrajit, won the Ateli seat for the first time, but her name is nevertheless on a shortlist, as is two-time MLA Laxman Yadav.

And then there are the Jats, one of the largest of Haryana’s sub-populations.

Jat leader Mahipal Dhanda is now a two-time MLA from Panipat (Rural) and is likely to be retained. Krishna Gehlawat, elected for the second time from Rai, is also in this race. A possible big new name is Shruti Chaudhary, the daughter of the party’s Rajya Sabha MP Kiran Chaudhary.

Other possibles include ex-minister Vipul Goyal from the Vaishya community.

READ | India’s Richest Woman Savitri Jindal, 2 Independents Back Haryana BJP

But perhaps the biggest name here is Savitri Jindal, India’s richest woman and an independent MLA from Hisar, who formally offered her support to the BJP last night.

The Rajput community may get Shyam Singh Rana and three-time MLA Harvinder Kalyan may be the Road community rep. Ranbir Gangwa could represent the OBC community; he was the Deputy Speaker in the previous government. Rajesh Nagar, a two-time MLA from Tigaon could be the Gurjar pick.

New Delhi:

The BJP is headed for a third straight term in Haryana, turning the exit poll predictions on its head. The BJP is leading in 49 of Haryana’s 90 seats. The Congress trailed with 34, and said it refused to accept the results. Here are the big winners in the state and the upsets: 

Winners

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini led has won from his Ladwa constituency, over Congress’ Mewa Singh. The BJP has decided that Mr Saini would remain in the top post, sources said — an acknowledgement of his role in dispelling the accumulated anti-incumbency against his predecessor Manohar Lal Khattar’s government.

Former state minister Anil Vij of the BJP has won from the Ambala Cantonment, beating Congress’s Parvinder Pal Pari by 44989 votes. Although BJP had made it clear before the polls that Nayab Singh Saini will retain his post if the party wins, Mr Vij, a six-time MLA, had recently thrown his hat in the ring for the post. Asked about the matter today, Mr Vij said he has always dedicated himself for the party and never asked anything.

Congress’s Bhupinder Singh Hooda has retained his Garhi Sampla-Kiloi seat in Rohtak district, defeating his nearest BJP rival, Manju. Mr Hooda, 77, won by a convincing margin of 71,465 votes defeating BJP’s Manju Hooda.

Congress candidate and wrestler Vinesh Phogat defeated her nearest rival and BJP nominee Yogesh Kumar by a margin of 6,015 votes. Election Commission data shows the Olympian had polled 65,080 votes while her BJP opponent secured 59,065 votes. “It is a victory of ‘sangharh’ (struggle) and victory of truth… I will always keep the trust and love of the people,” she said after the results were announced.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP Randeep Singh Surjewala’s son Aditya Surjewala defeated BJP’s sitting MLA Leela Ram by a margin of 8,124 votes. This was the debut election for the 25-year-old who had contested from Haryana’s Kaithal.  A graduate from the from the University of British Columbia, he had to face the taunts of “super foreigner” from the BJP.

Losers

Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Abhay Singh Chautala lost from the Ellenabad assembly seat in Haryana. Mr Chautala, the outgoing MLA, was defeated by Congress candidate Bharat Singh Beniwal by a margin of 15,000 votes.

Dushyant Chautala, the chief of Jannayak Janata Party, has lost to the BJP’s Devender Chatar Bhuj Atttri from the Uchana Kalan constituency. The former ally of the BJP, which broke alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha elections citing farmers’ anger and anti-incumbency against the BJP, has failed to post a single victory in this election.

Udai Bhan, the chief of Haryana Congress, has lost to the BJP’s Harinder Singh from Haryana’s Hodal assembly seat by a margin of over 2,500 votes, underscoring the Opposition party’s defeat in the election it was hoping to win. It also raises questions about the Congress support among Scheduled Castes, which the party had been banking on along with Jat support in this election.

Congress’s Surender Panwar, who recently made headlines for being investigated in a case involving illegal mining, has lost from Sonipat to the BJP’s Nikhil Maadan by a margin of 29627 votes. Mr Panwar was the sitting MLA from Sonipat, having won in the 2019 polls against the BJP’s Kavita Jain. 

Dharam Singh Chhoker, the Congress MLA from Samalkha, lost to the BJP’s Manmohan Bhadana by 19,315 votes.  Considered a close aide of Congress’s former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda, he is facing a money laundering case filed by the Enforcement Directorate. His son Sikhander Singh is arrested in the same case. 

New Delhi:

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini visited Saini Samaj Dharamshala in Kurukshetra today, shortly before the counting of votes for the assembly election, and expressed confidence the BJP would retain power in the northern state.

Mr Saini contested the election from Ladwa constituency of Kurukshetra district. He said the BJP’s work on the development front in the last 10 years will ensure the party sails through this time, too.

The exit polls have forecast a Congress win in both Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir – though exit polls often get it wrong.

“We have done a lot of development work in the last 10 years. The kind of system set up by former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar will continue to bring benefits for Haryana for a long time,” Mr Saini told reporters this morning.

“It is our responsibility to take this good work forward,” he added.

The Haryana assembly has 90 seats. Postal ballots will be counted first, followed by electronic voting machines (EVMs) 30 minutes later.

Haryana Chief Electoral Officer Pankaj Agarwal said 93 counting centres have been set up for the 90 assembly constituencies in 22 districts of Haryana.