Chandigarh, Oct 21 (IANS): The BJP Tuesday staked its claim to form the next government in Haryana.

A letter from the party was submitted to Haryana Governor Kaptan Singh Solanki by BJP leader Manohar Lal Khattar who was Tuesday unanimously elected as leader of the BJP legislative group at a meeting here. He will be the next chief minister of the state.

Khattar was accompanied to the Haryana Raj Bhawan by Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu, BJP national vice president Dinesh Sharma, state BJP president Ram Bilas Sharma, Union Minister Krishan Pal Gurjar and other BJP leaders.

The BJP is going to form its first government in the state since Haryana's creation Nov 1, 1966.

Khattar, a former Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) 'Pracharak', contested and won his first election from the Karnal assembly seat in the Haryana assembly results declared Sunday.

The swearing-in of the new chief minister and his cabinet is likely to take place Oct 26.