CHANDIGARH: Nayab Singh Saini is the man of the match for the BJP in the Haryana assembly elections, helping the party overcome 10 years of anti-incumbency to return it to power with absolute majority and its highest seat count.
Replacing Manohar Lal Khattar with Saini as the CM was seen as a desperate move to polarise the Scheduled Caste (SC) and backward classes in March.Six months later, the experiment turned out to have worked out well for the saffron party. BJP was able to capture a good chunk of SC/BC votes in addition from communities in the general category. OBCs and SCs have traditionally gone with Congress or regional parties.
Khattar’s alleged controversial statements that landed the party in a spot, untamed bureaucracy and issues like Parivar Pehchan Patra (PPP) and property IDs and accessibility of bigwigs had led to resentment among the rank and cadre of the party. Another threat came in the form of Congress consolidating votes, especially after BJP’s loss in five seats in the Lok Sabha elections.
Picked by Khattar, Saini was initially dubbed as “weak” to be the CM. Both had started their political career from RSS, with Saini being a computer operator. However, decisions taken by Saini during his 56-operational working days and coordination with RSS members helped the party.
The early backing of Saini as the CM face by the BJP high command, which included PM Narendra Modi, home minister Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda, also induced confidence among party workers. Certain moves like the announcement of raising the limit of creamy layer, correction of PPPs, property IDs, reservation for backward classes for promotion of employees and special packages for SCs too played their part.
Donning the role of an aggressive politician, Saini countered the Congress’s “Haryana Maange Hisab” campaigning by raking up alleged corruption during the previous Hooda govt, citing the “parchi-kharchi” system.
In his personal capacity, Saini’s gesture of attending to all those visiting him or contacting him till late evening hours and giving a patient hearing to workers and visitors too made a difference, according to party office-bearers.
“Although the decision to change the CM just ahead of the elections was termed as rash by a few, it was a well-thought-out plan. Similar moves had taken place in other BJP-ruled states as well. Saini’s simplicity added to our efforts as well. Rest, the work of the BJP govt at the Centre, guidance by senior leaders and the implementation by the Saini-led govt brought a change in mindset of people. As ours is a cadre-based party, we strengthened booth management and pacified our disheartened workers. They returned to booths and worked till the elections were over,” said a senior RSS leader explaining how BJP surprised Congress in the election.
