Sunday, February 27 2005 16:41 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chandigarh/New Delhi: The race for the post of Chief Minister in Haryana, where Congress secured a landslide win in Assembly polls, hotted up with with senior leaders Bhajan Lal and Bhupinder Singh Hooda throwing in their hats in the ring.

Bhajan Lal, who had held the top post thrice in the past said, "I am a claimant for the post of Chief Minister."

Hooda, a former PCC (Pradesh Congress Committee) chief who met AICC (All India Congress Committee) general secretary Ambika Soni, said afterwards "I am in the race and ready to fulfill the responsibility if given an opportunity by the party leadership."

On the procedure of deciding who will become the Chief Minister, Hooda said as per the party's tradition it is the high command, which decides the issue after consulting the newly elected legislators.

"The party leadership would send observers to ascertain the views of elected MLAs and then decide who will be the Chief Minister," he said.

Asked if other than elected MLAs could be considered for the post he said it was not issue within the party and anybody in the party including the party MPs could be the Chief Minister.

About Bhajan Lal's claim that he enjoys majority support among newly elected Congress' MLAs, Hooda said the matter would be decided by the legislators themselves.

Meanwhile, senior Haryana leaders, including Birendra Singh, Selja and Randeep Singh Surjewala, were expected to call on Congress President Sonia Gandhi to greet her on the party's victory in the State and also discuss the course of action with regard to Government formation.