New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) turned it into a festive occasion across the Haryana distributing sweets and busting crackers after party's spectacular performance in the assembly polls.
The party now faces a severe talent crunch for the top position in the state. The top most talked about Chief Minister contenders are Captain Abhimanyu, Ram Vilas Sharma, Manohar Lal Khattar and Rao Inderjit Singh.
Khattar, who won from Karnal, is said to be the top contender for the post of the Chief Minister in the state. He is close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He also has an association with Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS). Sources said that the RSS has given green signal on his name.
BJP president Amit Shah had on Sunday gave a call to Khattar after poll results predicted the party's clear sweep in the state. The Haryana Police, soon after the announcement of the result, also stepped up his security.
“I am a ‘karyakatra' (worker) of the BJP and as a worker whatever responsibility will be given to me, I will accept it and perform it,” he said.
Captain Abhimanyu is a big of BJP in the state. He is also in the race for the top post. But the problem with Abhimanyu is that he is a Jat.
According to reports, the BJP is having reservation on naming any Jat leader for the top job.
Abhimanyu proved his mettle during the Lok Sabha elections when BJP president Amit Shah handpicked him for his ‘Mission Uttar Pradesh'.
The BJP had given tickets to 27 Jats in the state, highest by any party. Jats mostly favoured OP Chautala's INLD. The
Other CM contender is Gurgaon MP and Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh. The party may put weight around Singh who quit Congress and joined the BJP just ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Singh, who belongs to Ahirwal region, is considered as strong leader. He is very close to the Prime Minister. It is believed that Singh has all the qualities to become a non-jat Chief Minister.
Haryana BJP chief Ram Vilas Sharma, a Brahmin, is also in the race for CM post. Four-time MLA from Mahendragarh, Sharma is a good orator. He has an RSS background and was the Health Minister in the Bansi Lal government. He is very close to senior party leader and External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.
Victory in Haryana is indeed a phenomenal achievement for the party. The party is in a ‘very comfortable' position, with 47 seats in the 90-member House, to form the government. A party needs to win 46 seats to get a simple majority in the House.
