Manohar Lal Khattar likely to be next Haryana CM

Chandigarh, Oct 20: As several CM aspirants may be delaying government formation in Haryana, the name of the BJP MP from Karnal, Manohar Lal Khattar has emerged as the strongest contender for the post of chief minister of the state, a TV report said on Monday.

60-year-old Khattar, with the background of RSS, is likely to be the next Haryana CM.

The report further said that the Union Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and BJP leader Dinesh Sharma will make the formal announcement after holding a meeting with the state MLAs.

Meanwhile, Khattar didn't divulge any details to media.

Though officially no reason has been given for the delay in installation of government in the state, party sources said that chief ministerial aspirants, including Haryana unit leader Ram Bilas Sharma, three newly elected first-time MLAs--M L Khattar, Abhimanyu and Om Parkash Dhankar--could be lobbying before senior party leaders in Delhi.

Earlier in the day, hectic lobbying was on behind the curtains in Haryana BJP for the post of chief minister, who is "likely" to take oath on October 22 even as the party high command has kept its cards close to its chest.

Amid the last minute attempts to stake claim for the post of Chief Minister in Haryana, a meeting will be convened on Tuesday.

The meeting will be chaired by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Venkaiah Naidu and party vice president Dinesh Sharma, who have been appointed observers by the BJP's Parliamentary Board for deciding on who will be the CM of Haryana.

OneIndia News