Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'Khattar as Haryana’s CM – a great move!' that was published in Newsband

Khattar as Haryana’s CM – a great move!

In Haryana, the first-time legislator Manohar Lal Khattar was chosen by the Bharatiya Janata Party for the top job not for his legislative experience or administrative expertise, but for his organisational skill and political savvy. Mr. Khattar joined the BJP from the ranks of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, where he was an active pracharak, and was put in charge of the party’s affairs in several States in the last two decades. In Haryana, his inputs led to BJP becoming strong and achieving a victory in the election.  

Chief ministership was a form of recognition for Khattar’s efforts. It is also an expression of gratitude by the Narendra Modi-Amit Shah team to Mr. Khattar. Modi was himself an organisation man before he became Chief Minister of Gujarat and hence he must have found something common between him and Khattar. Now that Khattar is made the CM of Haryana, he will now have to shift his focus to governance from political manoeuvres.

While Mr. Khattar may have been known for his organizational skills, his escalation from the ranks of RSS directly to the post of State Chief Minister is a reflection of much more than that. To be elected unopposed for the post of CM denotes a tacit understanding amongst the party members, manoeuvred by the shrewd skills of the man. It was more of his prudence and political skills that got him there. Khattar was chosen for the top post in Haryana owing to the RSS factor. The Prime Minister and the BJP President come from the same source and have been successful in taking daunting challenges of strengthening the organisation as well as the party. In that line, it is to be seen whether Khattar stands tested on the expectations of PM and BJP president steering through the problems that grip the state.

Laurels to the man for working close knit with the top brass of the BJP, garnering all support from Modi-Shah duo. Will Khattar go on to become a national leader one day?

Appointment of a non-Jat as the CM of Jat-dominated Haryana was a great move. Similarly a Brahmin should be made the CM of the Maratha-dominated Maharashtra. The need of the hour is appointment of patriotic and energetic people of integrity, dedication and honesty at all levels of governance.