Chandigarh/IBNS: A day after quitting as Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar Wednesday resigned from the Karnal Assembly seat, clearing the decks for his successor Nayab Singh Saini to contest the by-poll from the constituency.

Saini, who took over as Chief Minister on Tuesday, is presently a Lok Sabha member from Kurukshetra.

Addressing the special session of the state Assembly, Khattar said he has resigned his Assembly seat and CM Saini will take responsibility for the constituency.

Describing change as part of life, the former CM said when a turn comes, one has to turn. It is not called changing the path. In a poetic style, Khattar said: "Hum Na Honge Toh Koi Humsa Hoga, Koi Humare Nayab Singh Saini Jaisa Hoga" (If I am not there, somebody like me will be there. Somebody like our Nayab Singh Saini will be there).

Khattar said whatever responsibility is assigned to him by the party, he will discharge it with greater responsibility.

He expressed gratitude to all members of the House for grooming him in legislative business and bringing him to this level. He also thanked the bureaucracy for implementing the schemes at the grassroots level.

“I have always prioritised serving the people of Haryana and have brought improvements in the system with the support of technology, focusing on the basic principle of Haryana Ek-Haryanvi Ek, benefiting citizens. Today, many other states are also following our schemes and initiatives,” he said.