Chautala told reporters after his meeting with Governor Mahavir Prasad that he had been invited to form the government to replace the HVP ministry led by Bansi Lal who resigned on Wednesday shortly before he was to seek a vote of confidence following withdrawal of support by Congress and a split in his party.

Chautala presented 53 MLAs (INLD-22, BJP-10, HVP-D 15 and six independents) before the Governor.

Vinod Marya and Charan Dass Shorewala, who were disqualified by Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday, also accompanied the 53 MLAs. Chautala said that the Governor had not given any direction for seeking confidence of the state Assembly. Mahavir Prasad had directed the three parties and the Congress to submit the lists of their supporters by Friday evening.

The INLD leader said that his efforts wouldbe to provide a clean and stable government in the state. Efforts would be made to improve the law and order and end scarcity of power and water, he said.

Chautala, who would become the chief minister for the fourth time, said ministry formation, including appointment of a deputy chief minister, would be discussed at a meeting of the legislators later.

"So far consultations had been confined to reaching a consensus on finding the leader to head the alternative government," he said.

HVP-D president Kartar Singh Bhadana, who was present at the press conference along with BJP leader Ram Bilas Sharma and other MLAs, said that they had extended support to Chautala "in the larger interest of the state". HVP-D legislature party leader Karan Singh Dalal said thier support to Chautala was unconditional. "Our MLAs foiled all attempts of rivals to disintegrate us," he said adding that the legislators were unanimous in coming to the decision.

BJP leader Ram Bilas Sharma said the election of Chautala as aconsensus leader was "a victory of democratic forces". "State Congress president Bhupinder Singh Hooda and Bansi Lal made all attempts to create instability in the state," he said adding Chautala was unanimously elected as leader.Earlier in the day, Chautala emerged as the consensus candidate at a meetingof the leaders of INLD, BJP and HVP-D and six independents.