The BJP stormed to power in Haryana, winning the state for the first time alone since it was formed in 1966. The party that had never won more than five seats contesting on its own has a tally of 47 in the 90-member House.Manohar Lal Khattar, who is stated to be close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was today unanimously elected as the first Chief Minister of the saffron party in Haryana. With Khattar's election, Haryana got a non-Jat Chief Minister after 18 years.
While the non-Jats, particularly in urban areas, appear to have voted for the BJP in large numbers, the party offered the post to a person from Non jat community. 40 victorious MLAs being non-Jats, the demand to have a non Jat Chief Minister has gained ground within the party and the party leadership considered the proposal.
Bhajan Lal was the last non-Jat Chief Minister who held office from 1991 to 1996. After his exit three leaders belongs to Jat community Bansi Lal, Om Parkash Chautala (twice) and Bhupinder Singh Hooda (twice) were the Chief Ministers.
Khattar, a first-time MLA, has worked as an RSS Pracharak for 40 long years. Born in Rohtak district, he had contested the Assembly elections from Karnal. He won the Karnal seat with a margin of 63,736 votes. The 60-year-old Khattar is also the first Punjabi to become the Chief Minister of the state.
While the non-Jats, particularly in urban areas, appear to have voted for the BJP in large numbers, the party offered the post to a person from Non jat community. 40 victorious MLAs being non-Jats, the demand to have a non Jat Chief Minister has gained ground within the party and the party leadership considered the proposal.
Bhajan Lal was the last non-Jat Chief Minister who held office from 1991 to 1996. After his exit three leaders belongs to Jat community Bansi Lal, Om Parkash Chautala (twice) and Bhupinder Singh Hooda (twice) were the Chief Ministers.
Khattar, a first-time MLA, has worked as an RSS Pracharak for 40 long years. Born in Rohtak district, he had contested the Assembly elections from Karnal. He won the Karnal seat with a margin of 63,736 votes. The 60-year-old Khattar is also the first Punjabi to become the Chief Minister of the state.