New Delhi, May 5: Manohar Lal Khattar, born on May 5, 1954, in a modest family, has emerged as a significant leader in Haryana and Indian politics. His journey from grassroots organization to governance has been marked by discipline, organizational experience, and a focus on administrative reforms. Khattar recently made headlines after winning his first election and taking office as Chief Minister.
Born in Nindana village of the Meham tehsil in Rohtak district, Khattar’s family migrated from the Jhang district of West Punjab after the partition of India in 1947. Growing up in a rural environment, he embraced the values of hard work and simplicity.
After completing his matriculation from Pandit Neki Ram Sharma Government College in Rohtak, Khattar moved to Delhi to live with relatives and started running a clothing shop near Sadar Bazaar. He also earned his bachelor’s degree from Delhi University during this time.
In 1977, Khattar joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and became a full-time pracharak three years later. He worked as a full-time pracharak for 17 years before joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 1994. His organizational skills and grassroots experience laid the foundation for his political identity. He played a crucial role in strengthening the organizational framework of the Haryana BJP.
In 2014, Khattar was nominated as the BJP candidate for the Karnal constituency in the Haryana Assembly elections. The BJP achieved a historic majority in Haryana, and he won his first election by a margin of 63,736 votes. Khattar became the Chief Minister of Haryana in 2014, making history as the first non-Jat Chief Minister of the state. He led the state from 2014 to 2024, implementing several administrative and policy changes.
On October 27, 2019, Khattar took the oath for the second time as Chief Minister after forming an alliance with Dushyant Chautala’s Jannayak Janata Party following the 2019 Haryana Assembly elections. However, he resigned before completing this term, submitting his resignation to Haryana Governor Bandaru Dattatreya on March 12, 2024.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Khattar won as the BJP candidate from Karnal. In June 2024, he was appointed as the Minister of Power and Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs. Recently, he visited Bhutan as the Central Power Minister, where he met with the country’s Energy Minister to strengthen bilateral energy cooperation and review the progress of the Punatsangchhu hydropower projects. Khattar is known for his image as a simple and disciplined leader, often engaging in low-profile politics and believing in strengthening the organizational structure. His decision-making process is considered calm and systematic.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
