CHANDIGARH: Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s day-long visit to Haryana on April 14, coinciding with Dr B.R. Ambedkar Jayanti, is poised to be a significant event intertwining infrastructure development with political strategy.
By launching two massive development projects on this day, PM Modi is not just showcasing infrastructure achievements—he’s signalling a direct outreach to Scheduled Castes, especially in the neighbouring Punjab, where Dalits constitute over 30% of the population and form a decisive voting bloc.
At the heart of the Haryana leg of PM’s visit is the long-awaited Maharaja Agrasen International Airport in Hisar, which will be inaugurated by him. Spread across 7,200 acres including 4,200 for aviation operations and 3,000 for a manufacturing cluster, the airport is being seen as a game-changer for the region, including Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab. The Prime Minister will flag off the first commercial flight, to Ayodhya, symbolizing both logistical progress and a cultural connection, particularly resonant with the BJP’s religious pitch. As per the officials, the first flight, a 72-seater aircraft to take off from Hisar airport for Ayodhya at 10.40 am, will land at Ayodhya at 12.40 pm.
The authorities claimed that the inaugural Hisar-Ayodhya flight, operated by Alliance Air and priced at Rs 3,393, sold out within hours of the opening of the tickets. With planned connections to Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, and Jammu, the airport is expected to boost connectivity across North India and bring
Ahead of the PM’s visit to the state, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini termed the airport as “gift from the Prime Minister” and a “symbol of job creation and industrial growth.” Located just 165 km from Delhi, the airport is also intended to decongest Delhi-NCR’s aviation infrastructure. Also the second phase features a 3,000-meter runway capable of handling Airbus jets, while plans are in place to upgrade the facility to full international status by 2030.
The other project PM Modi is going to dedicate to the state is the second part of the Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram Thermal Power Plant in Yamunanagar. He will lay the foundation stone for an 800-MW supercritical thermal power unit executed by Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), the project will expand the plant’s current capacity of 600 MW and aims for completion in 52 months. With a current power generation of 2,582 MW and total installed capacity of 14,000 MW, Haryana is gearing up to meet the rising demand from railways, electric vehicles, and industrial units.
This is the first power plant to be set up by the BJP government in the state since it came to power in 2014 as the move will help the party to counter Congress’ claims as it had set up four power plants during the 10-year government of Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
“Electricity is the biggest need today,” said CM Saini, who emphasized on the state’s progress since the BJP took over. “Earlier, people faced hours-long power cuts. Today, 25 units cost just Rs 55, compared to Rs 200 in 2013-14,” he pointed out.
The BJP’s focus on providing steady and low-cost electricity is a key part of its development message, not just in Haryana, but also in nearby Aam Aadmi Party ruled Punjab, which is reeling under growing demand.
According to political analysts, choosing Ambedkar Jayanti for these announcements seems to be a move to align the government’s development agenda with the legacy of the Dalit icon and architect of the Indian Constitution. A state-level function honouring Dr Ambedkar will be held in Hisar, with public gatherings scheduled in both Hisar and Yamunanagar, amplifying the message.
Since the BJP has already won the Assembly elections in Haryana and also swept the recent municipal polls, the party’s decision to hold two rallies by the Prime Minister within just 200 km of each other suggests a clear strategy—to showcase Haryana’s development model and use it to gain political ground in Punjab.
For the BJP, the stakes in Punjab are high, despite its weak organizational base, the party sees an opportunity to penetrate Dalit heartlands, particularly in Doaba and Malwa, where Dalits have traditionally backed Congress or AAP. With AAP currently ruling Punjab and facing unrest from farmers following police crackdown on protesting farmers, the BJP is focusing on shifting the narrative.
Recent attacks, including the April 8 grenade attack on a BJP leader in Jalandhar, have been cited by the party to contrast Punjab’s instability with Haryana’s development trajectory. PM’s team is also floating welfare schemes successful in Haryana—like Lado Lakshmi Yojana (Rs 2,100 per month for women) and land allotment for the poor—as potential models for Punjab.
Moreover, Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini leaves no opportunity to target the AAP government in Punjab. With frequent visits and Punjab-focused statements, Saini is leading BJP’s push to project itself as a party of real change for Punjab’s distressed farmers, aiming to replicate its development model beyond Haryana.
“If BJP forms the government in the upcoming assembly elections in Punjab, then like Haryana, every farmer-friendly decision of the Modi government will be implemented, Our government will not only buy all the crops of the farmers at MSP, but will also give them all the respect that farmers are getting in Haryana”, Saini shared a post on his X account on Friday.
CM Nayab Singh Saini will present a six-month performance report in front of the Prime Minister on April 14. The visit holds particular significance as Saini, who was sworn in for his second term on October 17, last year. With the harvesting of wheat at the peak, BJP leaders in the state are gearing up for the rallies to ensure considerable presence at the events.