Karnal residents elated over Harvinder Kalyan’s elevation as Speaker of Assembly
Days after the non-inclusion of any of the five MLAs from Karnal district in the CM Nayab Singh Saini cabinet, now Gharaunda MLA Harvinder Kalyan has been appointed as the Speaker of the Haryana Assembly. His appointment has led to enthusiasm and joy among residents of the district, which comprises five Assembly segments – Karnal, Indri, Assandh, Gharaunda and Njlokheri, all won by BJP candidates.
Kalyan belongs to the Ror community which has a substantial presence in Karnal, Kurukshetra, Kaithal and Panipat. Political analysts suggest that the BJP’s decision is a strategic move to appease this community, which was not given a place in the Cabinet recently.
Born on January 15, 1967, Kalyan has a long-standing political career spanning nearly three decades, and his educational background includes a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil) degree obtained in 1989. Elected from the Gharaunda constituency for the third consecutive term, Kalyan has held various key positions, including chairman of HAFED, and chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha.
He was earlier in the Congress. Kalyan’s extensive work includes undertaking a 375-km ‘padyatra’ in 2004, which allowed him to engage directly with constituents across 104 villages, helping him understand their challenges first hand. He later joined the Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC), and further switched to the BSP. He had contested his first election in 2009 on the ticket of the BSP, but could not get success. Later, he joined the BJP and won the seat in 2014, 2019 and 2024.
Residents celebrated his appointment and said that the BJP government had considered the sentiments of the people of Karnal district by appointing him as Assembly Speaker. Karnal residents are hopeful that their issues will receive attention in the Assembly.
“Harvinder Kalyan has always been a voice of the area. His elevation to Speaker is an evidence of his hard work and dedication,” said Brij Gupta, officiating district president of the BJP.
Karnal MLA Jagmohan Anand, Indri MLA Ram Kumar Kashyap, Assandh MLA Yoginder Singh Rana and Nilokheri MLA expressed gratitude for the elevation of Kalyan as Speaker of Haryana Assembly.
Happy Gupta, chairman, Gharaunda MC, said, “Harvinder Kalyan developed the area in an inclusive manner without any discrimination. Now, he has been nominated as Speaker and we are happy with his elevation.”
Kalyan also expressed gratitude to all MLAs and the party leadership for putting faith in him. “I am grateful for the trust placed in me by the party and the MLAs. As Speaker, I will ensure that every voice in the Assembly is heard."
