Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya on Wednesday said that the historic hat-trick of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the recent assembly elections was an expression of the people’s trust in the development programmes of the Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini-led State government.
Extending a special welcome to all the members, the Governor, while addressing the first session of the Vidhan Sabha, said: “This is for the first time in the history of Haryana that people have shown trust in a government for the third consecutive time. It indicates that people support a corruption-free and transparent administration and inclusive development.”
In the polls conducted on October 5, the BJP secured an unprecedented third term in the state, winning 48 seats in the 90-member Assembly. The Congress bagged 37 seats, the INLD two while three Independents also won.
In his 38-minute address on the opening day of the three-day winter session of the assembly, the Governor said that among the 90 members of the 15th Assembly, there are 40 members who have been elected for the first time. In the 14th Assembly only nine women members were elected, but this time, their number has increased by nearly one and half times, reaching 13.
The Governor said that this House is the flagbearer of the aspirations of 2.75 crore people of the state. “Now, it is the utmost responsibility of every MLA to meet the expectations of the people,” he added.
Dattatraya said that for fair and peaceful elections, the vigilant voters, the Election Commission and all officers and employees associated with the election process deserve appreciation. The 2024 election has been an election based on trust in ‘Neeti, Niyat, Nishtha aur Nirnay’ (policy, intent, integrity, and decisions).
“I feel immense satisfaction in saying that my government, over the past 10 years, has worked beyond the narrow mindset of regionalism and family-based politics,” he said, praising the state’s efforts towards promoting “shiksha, swasthya, suraksha, swavalamban, aur swabhimaan (Education, health, security, self-reliance, and self-respect)” as part of its development goals.
Lauding the government’s ‘Haryana Ek, Haryanvi Ek’ initiative, the Governor reiterated that this approach has unified the state and promoted a collective identity. “This vision, guided by the philosophy of Antyodaya, prioritises reaching the last person in society with development schemes and resources,” he said.
One of the significant achievements mentioned was the improvement in the gender ratio thanks to the ‘Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao’ campaign initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Panipat in 2015. “The gender ratio has risen from 871 in 2014 to over 900, a reflection of the state’s commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment,” he said.
By following the guiding principle of ‘Sabka saath, sabka vikas, sabka vishwas' given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his government provided equal opportunities to everyone to progress in the state, said the Governor.
“The Prime Minister considers the poor, youth, women, and farmers as the four pillars of a 'Viksit Bharat' (developed India). My government has oriented its policies toward strengthening these pillars," he said.
Outlining the government’s goals, the Governor said employment, safety and empowerment would remain priorities. The government is planning new policies to support women employees, including assigning Group-C and Group-D women staff to their preferred districts and providing safe transport options for women working night shifts.
Reflecting on the state’s economic progress, the Governor noted that Haryana has advanced significantly in per capita income, industrial development, and innovation in agriculture. “The State has made a strong national presence across all sectors,” he said, attributing this progress to the administration’s emphasis on leveraging science and technology in agriculture.
Concluding his address, the Governor affirmed that the government’s vision is not just aspirational but also achievable. “This mandate represents the people’s will for continued development, a Haryana where everyone benefits from the fruits of progress,” he added.
Referring to the agriculture sector, the Governor said that the State Government had abolished the outstanding ‘abiana’ (canal water irrigation charge). The government is giving a minimum support price on 24 crops, he said.
