Saini Cabinet showcases a blend of fresh faces and established political families, marking a significant shift in Haryana’s political landscape. Four first-time MLAs have made their debut, while only one from the previous Cabinet — Mahipal Dhanda — has retained his position, along with former Home Minister Anil Vij who had opted out from Nayab Saini cabinet in March.
This change comes in the wake of a disappointing electoral performance, where eight out of 11 ministers from the prior cabinet faced defeat, underscoring a need for renewal and adaptation within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Among the new appointees, Arti Rao and Shruti Choudhary stand out as the only two women ministers. Both hail from influential political backgrounds—Arti is the daughter of Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh, while Shruti is the granddaughter of former Chief Minister Bansi Lal and daughter of current BJP Rajya MP Kiran Chaudhary. Arti Rao won from the Yadav-dominated Ateli constituency, defeating notable opponents like Attar Lal of the Bahujan Samaj Party and Anita Yadav of Congress by a substantial margin of over 56,000 votes. Her victory signifies the BJP’s third consecutive win in Ateli and establishes her as a prominent figure in Haryana politics.
Shruti Choudhary’s political journey has been marked by a notable family rivalry, as she defeated her cousin Anirudh Choudhary after her mother’s switch to the BJP following a tumultuous exit from the Congress party. Shruti is the only BJP MLA from the Bhiwani region who has managed to get a cabinet berth.
Another highlight of the cabinet is Gaurav Gautam, is the youngest minister in the Nayab Cabinet. Representing the Palwal constituency, Gautam (36) defeated veteran Congress leader Karan Singh Dalal with a resounding margin of over 33605 votes, securing a total of 109,118 votes. A member of the Brahmin community, Gautam is considered a rising star within the BJP and is recognized for his close association with central minister Krishna Singh Gurjar.
Additionally, Arvind Sharma, a former MP from Karnal, has transitioned to a cabinet role after winning his first election as an MLA from Gohana. His victory over three-time Congress MLA Jagbir Malik marks a significant achievement, helping the BJP secure Gohana assembly for the first time. The cabinet’s restructuring follows the electoral defeat of prominent figures such as Abhe Singh Yadav, JP Dalal, and Ranjeet Singh Chautala, simplifying the selection process for the BJP.
