'Felt Happy Like A Family Elder': BJP Leader Khattar Says On Nayab Singh Saini Taking Over As Haryana CM

The reaction comes after Manohar Lal Khattar was replaced with OBC leader Nayab Singh Saini, 54, as Haryana's chief minister in a swift switch in the state.

Khattar was made a party candidate to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Karnal.

Source : PTI

Former Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday said when Nayab Singh Saini succeeded him as the new CM, it gave him the same happiness which any elder of a family will get.

The reaction comes after Khattar was replaced with OBC leader Nayab Singh Saini, 54, as Haryana's chief minister in a swift switch in the state. Khattar, who resigned as an MLA from Karnal, has been made a party candidate to contest the Lok Sabha polls from Karnal.

Addressing a rally in Karnal district's Gharaunda, Khattar while referring to the change at the helm in Haryana, said, 

"We look at the changes in politics. We have been looking at these changes for years now...I had been after the leaders for a year now, telling them that it is the right time for them to find an alternative and make a decision to bring a new face that would make the people of Haryana, party and me happy," Khattar said. 

"On 12th March, my desire was fulfilled and Haryana Legislative Party unanimously decided to have Nayab Singh Saini as the new CM of the state...Different kinds of reactions and comments were received from the public," the Haryana CM added.

Khattar said change is part of life. Changes keep happening, including in the political arena.

"I am very happy today. I am feeling the same happiness which an elder of a family does... " BJP president JP Nadda was also supposed to attend the event, but a functionary said he could not come due to some party engagements. 

He further added that if this had been some other party like the Congress, there would have been chaos. He, however, indicated that the decision to effect the change in leadership was not a sudden one.

"It is not that it happened suddenly. For one year, I had been telling leadership that this is the time... bring a new face," said Khattar. 

That wish was fulfilled last week and the party MLAs unanimously decided that Kurukshetra MP Saini will be the next chief minister, he said.

"As disciplined soldiers of the BJP, we are ready to play any role. Our concern is to take the state and the country ahead," he further said.

The senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader said one sees power tussle which goes on in other parties. Factionalism is seen in the Congress, including in Haryana, he said.

Targeting the opposition in Haryana, Khattar said earlier when he became the chief minister in 2014, the opposition used to say he lacks experience and how will he run government.

"We did not have experience of indulging in loot like they did. But I had the experience of serving people for 40 years then... They criticise our portals, our flagship schemes like Parivar Pehchan Patra and other schemes, and say they will shut them down if they come to power.

"I want to remind them that various sections of people who are benefitting due to these schemes will teach them a lesson in the polls," said the former chief minister.

The chief minister also said the people of Haryana, like in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, will give all the 10 seats to "Modi ji's kitty" this time too.