Chandigarh, 21 October, 2024: Following the formation of the Council of Ministers, the race for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker positions in the Haryana Vidhan Sabha has intensified, with several MLAs left out of the Cabinet now lobbying through their connections for these influential roles.
The BJP leadership is expected to weigh caste and regional factors before finalizing its choices. Sources confirmed that Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini met with Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who oversaw the party’s Assembly campaign, to discuss both ministerial portfolio distribution and potential candidates for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker roles.
Three-term MLA Harvinder Kalyan, representing Gharaunda, has emerged as a leading contender for the Speaker’s position. “Kalyan is from the Rod community and Karnal district, both of which went unrepresented in the Council of Ministers, making him a strong candidate,” said an insider familiar with the discussions. However, other senior legislators, such as Mool Chand Sharma, a three-term MLA from Ballabhgarh, are also reportedly being considered for the post. Sharma, a former minister under Khattar’s previous administration, did not make it into the current Cabinet.
For the Deputy Speaker position, Jind MLA Krishan Lal Middha is seen as a favorite, though names like Ram Kumar Gautam from Safidon and Vinod Bhayana, a three-time MLA from Hansi, have also surfaced. A source noted that Gautam’s district, Jind, already has representation in the Cabinet through Krishan Bedi (Narwana), while Bhayana’s district, Hisar, is currently unrepresented. Additionally, Bhayana’s Punjabi background may play in his favor, as only one Punjabi—Anil Vij—holds a ministerial post.
Adding to the speculation, there is a possibility that a first-time MLA could be tapped for the Deputy Speaker position. “The party has a significant number of first-term MLAs, 22 out of 48, and may opt to promote fresh faces for leadership roles,” a party official suggested. While Arti Rao, Shruti Chaudhry, and Gaurav Gautam have been assigned ministries, many first-time MLAs remain without posts.
The Haryana Assembly is expected to convene soon for the oath ceremony of the newly elected members, during which elections for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker posts are likely to take place.
