The BJP’s resounding victory in Haryana’s mayoral elections has cemented Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s position as the party’s undisputed leader in the state. Winning 9 out of 10 municipal corporations and securing victories in 8 of 23 municipal committees, the election results are being viewed as a clear public endorsement of Saini’s leadership.
Held less than six months after the BJP formed the government in Haryana for a third consecutive term, this was the first civic election under Saini’s leadership. His aggressive campaigning, including back-to-back rallies and roadshows across the state, played a decisive role in BJP’s sweeping success. By personally campaigning even for candidates in municipal committees, Saini displayed his hands-on approach and commitment to strengthening the party’s grassroots presence.
Terming the results as a ‘stamp of approval’ by the people, Saini managed to deliver a message that the ‘triple-engine government’—BJP’s governance at the Centre, state, and local levels—will now accelerate Haryana’s development. “This mandate reflects the people’s trust in our vision for a developed Haryana and a developed India,” Saini stated. His remarks directly counter the opposition’s claims that the BJP was losing ground in the state’s urban areas.
The BJP’s top leadership, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and former CM Manohar Lal , placed their faith in Saini the same day last year by appointing him as Haryana’s Chief Minister. He successfully led the party in the October Assembly elections, securing power for the third time—an outcome that defied Congress’s expectations and dealt a significant blow to its resurgence plans.
Even as his first year in office was overshadowed by the Model Code of Conduct for Lok Sabha, Assembly, and municipal elections, Saini’s government pushed through 18 key reforms that have strengthened his grip on the state’s administration. His governance style, marked by accessibility and inclusivity, has earned him praise even from opposition legislators. Unlike his predecessors, he has kept the CM residence open to the public and engaged with communities across caste and regional lines, reinforcing BJP’s narrative of inclusive governance.