So, who will lead Haryana?

The BJP, which is going to form the government on its own in the state for the first time after getting a clear mandate in the results on Sunday, has over half a dozen top leaders in contention for the chief minister’s post. Some of them, who were contesting the assembly polls, have won their respective seats.

The names doing rounds include RSS activist Manohar Lal Khattar, state BJP president Ram Bilas Sharma and BJP spokesperson Abhimanyu. Other names are leaders who did not contest including Union ministers Sushma Swaraj, Rao Inderjit Singh and Krishan Pal. Congressman-turned-BJP leader Birender Singh is also in the running.

With the BJP winning many seats in north Haryana, especially in the G.T. Road (Grand Trunk Road) belt, Khattar is said to be a strong contender for the post. He has not contested any election and with over 40 years of public service, he is a known strategist and leader of election campaigns.

Sharma, 65, who hails from Mahendergarh, has been MLA from that seat for four consecutive terms - 1982, 1987, 1991, 1996 and was the health minister in Bansi Lal government formed by HVP-BJP alliance. He is said to be close to senior leader Sushma Swaraj.

Another BJP’s CM hopeful is Capt Abhimanyu Singh Sindhu, 46, from Narnaund.

Talks are also agog that the party may consider Union external minister Sushma Swaraj for the state CM’s chair. Krishan Pal Gujjar, 57, who is already Union minister in Modi government, will have to bank on post-election parleys.