Haryana Chief Minister Saini Holds Key Departments Post-Cabinet Reshuffle

In a significant reshuffle within the Haryana government, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who assumed office on March 12, has finalized the allocation of portfolios to his council of ministers. This development comes shortly after the cabinet was expanded, marking a new phase in the state's governance ahead of the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls.

The distribution of responsibilities was officially announced late Friday night, with CM Saini retaining several key departments. Among these are the Home Department, Revenue and Disaster Management, Youth Empowerment and Entrepreneurship, and Information and Public Relations, along with Languages and Culture, Mines and Geology, Administration of Justice, and Foreign Cooperation Departments. Saini will also oversee the Criminal Investigation Department, Law, Personnel and Training, Raj Bhavan Affairs, and any other department not assigned to a minister.

The Governor of Haryana executed these allocations based on the Chief Minister's recommendations. This reshuffle sees a departure from the previous cabinet under Manohar Lal Khattar, where notable departments such as Home were managed by Anil Vij, who is absent from Saini's cabinet.

Cabinet Minister Kanwar Pal has been entrusted with Agriculture and Farmers Welfare, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Heritage and Tourism, and Parliamentary Affairs. These sectors are crucial for the state's economy and cultural heritage. Mool Chand Sharma has taken charge of Industry and Commerce, Labour, Food Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs departments.

Ranjit Singh continues to manage the Energy and Jails departments from his tenure in the previous government. Finance, a pivotal department previously held by Khattar himself, has now been assigned to Jai Prakash Dalal. Dalal will also handle Town and Country Planning and Urban Estates departments.

Kamal Gupta steps into the role of overseeing Health, Ayush, Medical Education and Research departments. Additionally, he will manage Civil Aviation—a department previously under Dushyant Chautala. Banwari Lal has been given responsibility for Public Health Engineering, Public Works Building and Roads departments.

Ministers of State with Independent Charge

The government has also appointed Ministers of State with Independent Charge for various departments. Seema Trikha will oversee School Education and Higher Education while Mahipal Dhanda takes on Development and Panchayats, Co-operation. Aseem Goel has been allocated Transport along with Women and Child Development department.

Abhe Singh Yadav will manage Irrigation and Water Resources as well as Sainik and Ardh Sainik Welfare departments. Subhash Sudha is tasked with Urban Local Bodies and Housing for All whereas Bishamber Singh will look after Social Justice, Empowerment, SCs and BCs Welfare along with Antyodaya, Printing and Stationery departments. Sanjay Singh has been given Environment, Forests and Wildlife along with Sports Departments.

This reorganization follows a surprising political maneuver last week when the BJP introduced Nayab Singh Saini as Haryana's new Chief Minister in place of Manohar Lal Khattar. The move came just weeks before the Lok Sabha polls. Saini's appointment was followed by the induction of eight BJP MLAs into his council of ministers—seven of whom are new faces—in its first expansion.

The newly formed government under Saini's leadership successfully secured a vote of confidence in a special session of the state assembly last Wednesday. This marks a new chapter in Haryana's political landscape as it gears up for upcoming electoral challenges.