BJP leader Nayab Singh Saini will take oath as the chief minister of Haryana on October 15, according to local media. The ceremony will likely be held at Panchkula and will have Prime Minister Narendra Modi attending it.
Earlier there were reports that the swearing-in ceremony is likely to take place after Dussehra. Nayab Singh Saini had met Modi and other senior BJP leaders in Delhi on Wednesday as part of Cabinet formation talks. Saini also met Union minister and the BJP's election in-charge for Haryana, Dharmendra Pradhan.
So far, Saini is the only contender for the top post. However, other factors like caste and region equations may be considered while deciding the cabinet.
Along with Saini, 10 to 11 ministers are also likely to take oath. Haryana can have a maximum of 14 ministers, including the chief minister.
In line with the BJP's past choices, new faces may be given a chance in the new government. The fact that eight out of 10 ministers and the assembly speaker of the previous Saini government lost the elections may prompt the party to opt for fresh faces.
The probable names include Shruti Chaudhary, granddaughter of late Bansi Lal, and Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh's daughter Arti Singh Rao. Other women in the fray include senior leader Kiran Choudhry's daughter Shruti, a former MP, who won from Tosham assembly seat and Shakti Rani Sharma, who won from Kalka.
Senior leaders Mahipal Dhanda and Mool Chand Sharma are also in the list. Dhanda, who won from Panipat Rural, belongs to the Jat community while Sharma, elected from Ballabhgarh seats, is the Brahmin face of the party.
It could also give the Dalit community adequate representation in the Cabinet as the BJP won eight out of the 17 Scheduled Caste (SC) seats in Haryana. Dalit leaders in reckoning for the ministerial berths include senior leader Krishan Lal Panwar, who won from Israna seat, and Krishan Kumar, who won from Narwana.
Om Prakash Yadav, who won from Narnaul, and senior leader Rao Narbir Singh, who won from Badshahpur, are also in the race.
Independent candidate and Hisar MLA Savitri Jindal's name is also doing rounds besides BJP leaders Anil Vij (Ambala Cantt), Shyam Singh Rana (Radaur), Jagmohan Anand (Karnal), Harvinder Kalyan (Gharaunda), Krishan Lal Middha (Jind), Arvind Kumar Sharma (Gohana), Vipul Goel (Faridabad), Nikhil Madaan (Sonipat) and Ghanshyam Dass (Yamunanagar).
Devender Attri, who won from Uchana Kalan, is also a probable.