New Delhi: As the Haryana Assembly elections approach, a tussle has emerged over the Chief Minister’s position. Former minister Anil Vij has come forward, asserting his claim to the Chief Minister’s post if the BJP returns to power. Vij has self-declared himself as the best candidate for the Chief Minister role within the BJP.
The BJP had already announced that Nayab Singh Saini would continue as the Chief Minister if the party wins the Assembly elections. Anil Vij, 71, is contesting the elections for the seventh time.
“People from different parts of the state are approaching me. Despite being the most senior leader, they ask me why I haven’t become the Chief Minister. Considering the demands of the people of Haryana and my seniority in the party, I will stake my claim for the Chief Minister’s post. During my tenure, there were numerous developments and upgrades to infrastructure. So far, I have not asked the party for any position. If the party makes me the Chief Minister, I will certainly change the face of Haryana,” said Vij.
In addition to Anil Vij, Union Minister and BJP leader Rao Inderjit had also staked his claim for the Chief Minister’s post.
In March this year, ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, the BJP replaced Manohar Lal Khattar with Nayab Singh Saini, an OBC face, to counter the anti-incumbency sentiment. Despite this, the BJP faced setbacks in the elections, losing five out of the 10 seats it had won in 2019. Anil Vij’s Ambala constituency was among the seats the BJP lost.
However, Haryana BJP in-charge Dharmendra Pradhan dismissed Vij’s claim. He clarified that if the party wins, the sitting Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini would continue in the role. The Haryana Assembly elections are scheduled for October 5. The BJP first formed a majority government in Haryana in 2014.
