With the impasse on government formation in Maharashtra on top of everyone’s mind, the stalemate in Haryana has been all but forgotten. More than a week after Bhupinder Singh Hooda was sworn in as Chief Minister, there has been no progress on ministry formation.

When the high command turns its attention to Haryana, it is likely to confront competing claims for berths in the Assembly and attempts by some leaders to block their rivals from making it. All guns are trained, for instance, at former forest minister Kiran Choudhry, and also at state Congress chief Phool Chand Mullana to dethrone him for the party’s underwhelming performance in the just concluded Assembly polls.

All contenders have been camping in Delhi, almost taking over the Haryana Bhawan which has shown full occupancy since Hooda’s swearing-in. With Hooda meeting Congress chief Sonia Gandhi earlier this week, the drama has acquired a new frisson of excitement. On the same day, however, Sonia also gave a hearing to other Congress leaders, including former BCCI chief Ranbir Mahindra, who blames sister-in-law Kiran Choudhry for his defeat. Significantly, Sonia had given a hearing to all camps before announcing Hooda as CM too.

Whether or not Kiran Choudhry finds space in the Cabinet will be telling. She is looking for a promotion to the Cabinet, but the Hooda camp is not known to be in favour of her inclusion.