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Rao Narbir Singh, Arti Rao represent south Haryana in new cabinet

Another key inclusion in the state cabinet is Ateli MLA Arti Singh Rao, who is the daughter of Gurugram MP and Union minister Rao Inderjit Singh, a key political player in south Haryana and a prominent leader of the Ahirwal region.

Updated on: Oct 18, 2024, 06:14:07 IST
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Gurugram, the largest city in Haryana by population and revenue, will be represented in the state cabinet by Badshahpur legislator Rao Narbir Singh. The new state cabinet was sworn in on Thursday under the leadership of chief minister Nayab Singh Saini. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah and several chief ministers of NDA-ruled states were present at the swearing-in ceremony, in which 11 cabinet ministers and two ministers of state took oath of office.

The ministers of the Haryana cabinet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the swearing-in ceremony on Thursday. (HT PHOTO)
The ministers of the Haryana cabinet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the swearing-in ceremony on Thursday. (HT PHOTO)

Another key inclusion in the state cabinet was Ateli MLA Arti Singh Rao, the daughter of Gurgaon MP and Union minister Rao Inderjit Singh, a key political player in south Haryana and a prominent leader of the Ahirwal region.

In the previous BJP dispensation led by Saini, Sohna MLA Sanjay Singh was included in the cabinet.

In the last five years, Gurgaon, Badshahpur, Sohna and Pataudi assembly constituencies witnessed civic disintegration and poor execution of infrastructure projects, which caused concerns among voters.

Badshahpur, in Gurugram district, has the maximum number of voters in Haryana. In fact, BJP’s pick from Badshahpur, Rao Narbir Singh’s entire political campaign in the run-up to the assembly polls focussed on the fact that Gurugram lacked a share in governance from 2014 to 2019, and his victory was necessary to bring back development in this region. He was a minister in the cabinet from 2014 to 2019 and recalled the work done then as part of his poll campaign.

After taking oath, Rao Narbir Singh reiterated his commitment to delivering on the promises he made to the people of Gurugram and the state.

On Thursday, he said that he will ensure the city becomes cleaner, greener and free of garbage regardless of the portfolio he is assigned.

“People have placed their trust in me, and I will not let them down. My priority is to ensure that the city gets a much-needed makeover and becomes a symbol of cleanliness. I am determined to make Gurugram a model city by addressing issues like garbage disposal, waste management and overall urban hygiene,” Singh said.

The Badshahpur MLA said that his top priority will be to ensure that the city undergoes a transformation. “Gurugram will see an upgrade in infrastructure and facilities. Clean streets, modern waste management systems and beautification projects are on my agenda,” Singh said.

Apart from his focus on cleanliness, Singh made it clear that corruption-free governance will also be a central aspect of his ministerial duties. “No corruption will be tolerated under my watch,” he said.

Arti Rao, who made her debut as an MLA from the Ateli assembly seat, took oath as a cabinet minister on Thursday. Rao is the daughter of Gurgaon MP Rao Inderjit Singh and she carries forward his legacy of being a representative of the Ahirwal region.

In the 2019 assembly election also Arti Rao was a contender for the party ticket but she did not get the BJP ticket. In this election, she won with a slim margin of 2,500 votes and her supporters alleged that strong efforts were made to ensure her defeat in the election to undermine Rao Inderjit Singh.

After taking oath as a minister, she said that she will focus on development of the state, and ensure growth of the Ateli constituency.

“I am thankful to the party organisation and leadership for giving me this responsibility. I will work for the development of the state,” she said.

  • Leena Dhankhar
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Leena Dhankhar

    Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More

  • Abhishek Behl
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Abhishek Behl

    Abhishek Behl is a Special Correspondent with Hindustan Times, Gurugram bureau. With over a decade of experience in journalism, he reports on Gurugram's rapid urban transformation, covering the city's changing infrastructure, governance, and planning landscape. His reporting spans major civic agencies, such as the Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA), Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP), Haryana Shahari Vikas Pradhikaran (HSVP), and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Behl has reported on key urban development issues such as RRTS projects, metro expansion, road and highway projects, water supply, drainage, mobility, environmental concerns, land use planning, affordable housing, and the city's real estate sector. He closely tracks policy decisions, infrastructure implementation, and their impact on the city and its residents. He also covers regulatory action against illegal constructions, urban flooding, traffic management, and initiatives aimed at improving civic services and sustainable development. Behl has also written on political developments in south Haryana, focusing on elections and governance. His journalism is driven by fact-based reporting, ground-level coverage, and an understanding of the social and economic dynamics of Gurugram. Apart from work he is a cyclist and a cricketer and a resident of Palam Vihar since 2010.Read More