With BJP winning the Haryana elections, all eyes are on the formation of the next government likely to be led by current chief minister Nayab Saini along with one or two deputy chief ministers.
Sources in the BJP said government formation would be done in the next few days. The BJP’s central leadership would send observers to hold meetings with MLAs in Haryana to formally elect the party’s pick for the chief ministerial post.
While Saini got elected from Ladwa assembly seat located on GT Road, party leaders view that a deputy chief minister could be selected from Yadav-dominated Ahirwal region. The BJP swept Ahirwal region which has firmly stood with the BJP since 2014.
Another political calculation being considered is to appoint a dalit as the deputy chief minister as this caste has come back to the BJP fold, especially the non-Jatav Dalits.
BJP’s Panipat rural MP Mahipal Dhanda, a Jat who started his career from ABVP, may be considered for a ministerial berth. He was made minister when Saini was sworn in.
It would be interesting to see whether the BJP assigns any responsibility to Anil Vij who, in the run-up to the assembly polls, expressed his desire to become deputy chief minister. He was removed from the state cabinet when Manohar Lal Khattar was replaced with Saini.
Devender Attri, a brahmin, won from Uchana Kalan, a Jat-dominated seat. This seat was won by the BJP for the first time since independence making Attri a key contender for the ministerial berth. The seat has witnessed the clash of two big political dynasties of Haryana Devi Lal clan and Sir Chotu Ram’s family.
Attri defeated Brijenda Singh by a narrow margin. Similarly, Bansi Lal’s granddaughter Shruti Chaudhary is also seen as a contender for a ministerial post.
In all the assembly polls which BJP won since 2023, it has gone with the formula of having one chief minister and two Deputy Chief Ministers to balance caste equations and the aspirations of various regions within a state. This model ensures collective leadership at the state level.