CM Saini pays tribute to Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on birth anniversary

Key Takeaways

Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini paid tribute to Bhairon Singh Shekhawat on his birth anniversary on October 23, 2026 .

Shekhawat served as Vice President of India from 2002 to 2007 and as Chief Minister of Rajasthan three times .

In 1977 , Shekhawat launched the Antyodaya programme in Rajasthan to deliver direct relief to the poorest families.

Saini praised Shekhawat's 'lifelong dedication to the upliftment of the person standing in the last row of society.' BJP leaders regularly invoke Shekhawat's Antyodaya legacy as a foundational reference for the party's welfare philosophy.

On the birth anniversary of former Vice President and three-time Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini offered a heartfelt tribute on Friday, October 23, 2026, honouring a leader whose life was defined by his commitment to the poorest and to principled governance.

Posting in Hindi on X, CM Saini wrote: 'कोटि-कोटि नमन' — 'a million salutes' — to Shekhawat, adding that 'his lifelong dedication to the upliftment of the person standing in the last row of society and to good governance will always remain an inspiration for all of us.'

The man behind the Antyodaya idea

Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was no ordinary political figure. Born in Rajasthan, he rose from a modest background to become one of the most consequential BJP leaders of the late twentieth century — serving as Chief Minister of the state three times and later as Vice President of India from 2002 to 2007. What set him apart was not just electoral success but a governing philosophy built around a single question: what does the system do for those it most easily forgets? His answer came in 1977, when he implemented the Antyodaya programme in Rajasthan — a pioneering welfare initiative designed to identify the poorest families in every village and deliver direct relief and basic amenities to them. The word Antyodaya — 'rise of the last person' — was drawn from Gandhian thought, and Shekhawat turned it into actionable state policy decades before the term became a staple of national political vocabulary. The programme's DNA would later echo in central government welfare architecture.

Why BJP leaders keep returning to Shekhawat

Saini's tribute is part of a broader pattern in which BJP leaders invoke Shekhawat's legacy as a living reference point — not merely as historical courtesy. His emphasis on last-mile welfare delivery and transparent administration aligns naturally with the party's current messaging on poverty alleviation and good governance. For a Chief Minister like Saini, governing a state with its own mix of agrarian communities and marginalised populations, the Shekhawat template carries genuine ideological resonance. The tribute also reinforces continuity — a reminder that the party's welfare instincts have roots that predate recent decades.

Point of View

Invoking 'the last person in the row' is not nostalgic ceremony; it signals alignment with a pro-poor framing that the party consistently deploys to define its governance identity. Shekhawat's three terms as Rajasthan CM and his Vice Presidency give this tribute cross-state weight, reaching beyond Haryana to resonate in Rajasthan's political memory. The post also reflects a quiet but consistent BJP strategy of canonising its own historical figures to deepen cadre and voter attachment to the party's ideological roots.

NationPress

23 Oct 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Bhairon Singh Shekhawat?

Bhairon Singh Shekhawat was a senior BJP leader who served as Chief Minister of Rajasthan three times and as Vice President of India from 2002 to 2007. He is remembered for launching the Antyodaya programme in 1977 to uplift the poorest families.

What is the Antyodaya programme associated with Shekhawat?

The Antyodaya programme was launched by Shekhawat in Rajasthan in 1977. It identified the poorest families in villages and provided them direct relief and basic amenities — making it one of India's earliest last-mile welfare initiatives.

Why did Nayab Singh Saini pay tribute to Bhairon Singh Shekhawat?

October 23 is Bhairon Singh Shekhawat's birth anniversary. Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini posted a tribute on X honouring Shekhawat's legacy of good governance and dedication to the upliftment of the marginalised.

How many times was Bhairon Singh Shekhawat Chief Minister of Rajasthan?

Bhairon Singh Shekhawat served as Chief Minister of Rajasthan three times, making him one of the longest-serving and most influential leaders in the state's political history.

What does 'Antyodaya' mean?

'Antyodaya' is a term rooted in Gandhian philosophy meaning 'rise of the last person.' Shekhawat translated it into a state welfare programme in Rajasthan in 1977, focusing resources on the most deprived communities.