Maharashtra-Haryana live updates: ML Khattar to take oath as Haryana CM on Sunday, Chautala to be deputy CM

Despite poll pundits almost writing the Congress off after the Lok Sabha drubbing and the long-drawn drama over Rahul Gandhi's resignation, the grand old party has made a striking turnaround in Haryana and Maharashtra elections, thanks to the old guards who under Ahmed Patel have revived some of its sparkle on Diwali.

At least two MLAs from Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) and a few Independents are likely to be inducted into the council of ministers that will take oath on Sunday here along with chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar and JJP chief Dushyant Chautala as his deputy. The parties are mulling on the final list of candidates that are to be kept on board. Also, a couple of ministers, who won the elections, are likely to make a comeback.

Newly-elected NCP MLAs in Maharashtra will meet here on October 30 to elect the leader of the House, party sources said on Saturday. NCP chief Sharad Pawar will also attend the meeting, to be held at the party's headquarters here, they said. The decision on who would become the leader of opposition (LoP) will be taken after government is formed in the state, sources added.

JJP leader Ajay Chautala has been granted furlough and is expected to be out by today evening or Sunday morning, said DG Tihar Jail. Chautala has been granted furlough for two weeks. JJP president Dushyant Chautala had on Friday met his father Ajay Chautala at Tihar prison complex. Ajay Chautala is scheduled to leave Tihar jail either on Saturday evening or Sunday morning, officials said.

"The Haryana governor has invited us to form the government on Sunday," CM Manohar Lal Khattar said. He said that the oath-taking ceremony will take place at 2.15 pm on Sunday. Khattar said Dushyant Chautala would take oath as the deputy chief minister. A total of 57 MLAs staked claim before the governor for forming the government in Haryana, he added.

Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) leader Ajay Chautala has been granted furlough and is expected to be out by today evening or Sunday morning, said DG Tihar Jail. Chautala has been granted furlough for two weeks. Read more

Ajay Chautala is likely to be out today evening or tomorrow morning.

As much deliberation between the BJP and Shiv Sena continues to form government in Maharashtra, two independent MLAs Ashish Jaiswal and Narendra Bhondekar on Saturday met Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray at his residence 'Matoshree' in Mumbai. After the meeting, Shiv Sena claimed that the two independent candidates have offered their support to the party (ANI)