Following the BJP’s decisive victory in Haryana, discussions are intensifying about the composition of the next State government. In all the Assembly polls that 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.
Now, all eyes are on the formation of the next government likely to be led by incumbent Chief Minister Nayab Saini along with one or two deputy Chief Ministers. To balance the caste equations in the State, BJP leadership may appoint deputy CMs belonging to Yadav, Brahmin and Scheduled Caste.
Earlier, the BJP had projected Nayab Saini, who replaced Manohar Lal Khattar as the Chief Minister in March and hails from the Other Backward Classes, as the party’s CM pick during the campaign.
Ahead of the formation of the BJP government for a record third consecutive term in Haryana after winning 48 out of the 90 Assembly seats in the State, incumbent Chief Minister Saini met senior BJP leaders including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, national BJP chief JP Nadda, his mentor Manohar Lal Khattar. Later, Saini had also joined the BJP core committee meeting chaired by Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan and attended by Lok Sabha MP Biplab Deb and Surender Nagar, Khattar, BJP national general secretary Vinod Tawde and state BJP president Mohan Lal Badoli to start the process of forming the government. The Haryana oath ceremony is likely to be held after Dussehra.
Speculations are high that the BJP Government in Haryana is likely to have CM Saini with one or two deputy Chief Ministers. Sources in the BJP said that 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 the Ladwa assembly seat located on GT Road, party leaders view that a deputy chief minister could be selected from the 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 chief minister. He was removed from the State cabinet when 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.
Being credited with victory on 10 of the 11 seats, Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh is virtually pitching for a Cabinet berth not just for his daughter but also for other MLAs as a return gift for the region for supporting the BJP. Inderjit, who claims to have made peace with the party’s pre-election choice of the CM, says Ahirs now want a major chunk in the state Cabinet.
“When everybody had doubts, Ahirwal trusted the BJP for three consecutive terms. People obviously are expecting that at least this time they will have more representation in the Cabinet. We are not just looking at more regional representation, but a more powerful one,” said Rao. Senior party leaders reveal that Arti was in line for a prominent Cabinet berth in Haryana and Inderjit was eying elevation in the Modi Cabinet. Arti pulled off a close victory at Ateli by a margin of 3,085 votes. In addition, all nine candidates recommended for the ticket by Rao and supported by him have emerged victorious in Ahirwal.
Furthermore, Senior BJP leader and former Haryana Minister Rao Narbir, who secured a resounding victory in the State’s largest Assembly segment, Badshahpur, is now in the running for the Deputy Chief Minister post. Sources have revealed that Narbir, leveraging his new-found proximity to Union Home Minister Shah, has entered the race following his win. After the election, Narbir reportedly met the party’s central leadership to discuss the possibility.
Talking to reporters, Narbir said, “The victory has been encouraging. I am ready for any role the party assigns me, but I am hopeful the party will reward me for one of the biggest victories in the state. I hope to serve the people in a prominent position.”
Narbir faced significant internal opposition to secure his ticket, only receiving it after intervention from Amit Shah, who rallied in his support. During the campaign, Shah assured voters that Narbir would become a “big man” if elected. Now, having won with a margin of over 60,000 votes, Narbir is looking to claim what was hinted at during the campaign.
BJP sources said that Narbir cannot be overlooked in the Cabinet formation. He has not only won the state’s largest segment but did so after being written off. The fact that he stayed loyal to the party despite being denied a ticket in 2019 and then excelled in this election strengthens his case. Having been a strong Cabinet member from 2014 to 2019, he will likely be considered for a major Cabinet role.
With leaders already lobbying for Cabinet positions, particularly from the Ahirwal region, Narbir has emerged as a strong contender, though not aligned with the Inderjit Singh camp.
