Haryana’s Chief Minister-Designate Nayab Singh Saini Set to Take Oath

Just hours after being unanimously elected as the leader of the BJP legislature party, Nayab Singh Saini on Wednesday claimed the mandate to form the next government in Haryana.

Three Independent MLAs who won in the October 5 Assembly elections, including Savitri Jindal from Hisar, have pledged their support to the BJP.

Saini is scheduled to take the oath of office as Chief Minister on Thursday. High-profile attendees at the ceremony will include Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and BJP President JP Nadda.

The choice of October 17 for the ceremony carries significance as it coincides with Valmiki Jayanti, signaling outreach to the Dalit community.

When Saini, a relatively inexperienced politician, succeeded Manohar Lal Khattar as Haryana’s Chief Minister in March, the BJP aimed to present a fresh face to counter a decade of anti-incumbency challenges.

Although the BJP secured only five out of ten Lok Sabha seats in the recent parliamentary elections, it achieved a historic third consecutive term in the state elections. This turnaround was largely attributed to the party’s strong performance in Jat regions, where it was previously anticipated that Congress would dominate, as well as its success in regaining a significant portion of Dalit and OBC votes that had previously gone to Congress.

As an OBC representative of the BJP, Saini has worked diligently to ensure the party’s continued dominance in Haryana. His government has announced a variety of initiatives aimed particularly at engaging with the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) and Scheduled Castes (SCs), amidst a perceived consolidation of Jat support for Congress.

In a departure from the norm, the BJP designated Saini as the Chief Ministerial candidate during the campaign phase. At a rally on September 14, Prime Minister Modi praised Saini, stating, “Very few people can achieve this kind of popularity in such a short time. There’s a reason our Chief Minister has reached this level… Anyone from Haryana who meets me praises our CM for elevating the honor of our state. He is a simple man who has risen from a backward class community while maintaining his humility and simplicity.”

Supreme Court to Hear Marital Rape Pleas

On Thursday, the Supreme Court will begin hearing petitions regarding marital rape. A bench consisting of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra announced that the hearings will commence. This issue has gained urgency due to the government’s opposition to criminalizing marital rape.

The Centre’s affidavit argued that while a husband does not have the fundamental right to violate his wife’s consent, classifying this as “rape” within the context of marriage could be viewed as excessively harsh and disproportionate. The affidavit indicated that the court should balance fundamental rights with the institution of marriage.

Various political parties, including Congress, the Left, Trinamool Congress (TMC), DMK, Shiv Sena (UBT), Samajwadi Party (SP), RJD, Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), and Biju Janata Dal (BJD), have consistently advocated for legislation to criminalize marital rape.

CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat criticized the government’s submission in the Supreme Court as “regressive,” stating, “It essentially views a woman’s body as part of a marriage contract, wherein the husband holds full rights over her body.”

Congress member Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who has previously supported the criminalization of marital rape, took a more measured approach, emphasizing the need for comprehensive discussions with all stakeholders. He stated, “It’s a sensitive issue that requires careful consideration. Differentiating between marital rape and consensual cohabitation is challenging. The judiciary should address it after wide-ranging discussions within society.”

In 2022, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien introduced a private member’s Bill to criminalize marital rape, arguing that any exceptions to the definition of rape are contrary to the right to life and liberty. He emphasized that all women should have the right to lead safe and dignified lives.

The issue was first raised in the Rajya Sabha in 2015 by DMK MP Kanimozhi, who cited a UN Population Fund report indicating that over 75% of married women in India had experienced marital rape, highlighting the absence of legal protections against it.