Chandigarh, Haryana Pradesh Congress Committee (HPCC) president Phool Chand Maullana met state Governor Jagannath Pahadia here on Friday and staked a claim to form the next government in the state. On Thursday, the Congress got 40 seats in the 90-member assembly, falling short by six MLAs to cross the half - way mark.

During his meeting with Governor Pahadia, Maullana submitted letters of all seven independent MLAs who had pledged unconditional support to the Congress party to form the government.

Speaking to the media outside Raj Bhavan, Maullana said the party high command would take a decision on who would be the next Chief Minister by this evening.

The Congress High Command has still not made it clear whether incumbent Chief Minister Bhoopinder Singh Hooda will be the party's choice to lead the state.

Congress President Sonia Gandhi met her political Secretary Ahmed Patel and Haryana in charge Prithviraj Chavan to discuss the state leadership issue this morning.

-Arun Acharya