Haryana: Vij to stake claim for CM's post if BJP wins

In a dramatic twist ahead of the Haryana Assembly elections, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Anil Vij has publicly declared his intention to stake a claim for the Chief Minister’s post, despite the party having already chosen Nayab Singh Saini as its chief ministerial candidate.

- NEERAJ MOHAN

Anil Vij, a six-time MLA from Ambala Cantonment and a veteran leader in the state, has expressed that his claim is based on popular demand from the people of Haryana and his seniority within the party. “People across the state have been asking me why I never became the CM despite being the seniormost leader,” Vij stated at a press conference in Ambala.

“Based on their demands and my standing in the party, I will stake my claim for the CM’s post. Whether the party chooses me or not is their prerogative, but I have never asked for anything before this.” Vij, who is locked in fierce triangular contest with Parimal Pari of Congress and estranged Congress leader Chitra Sarwara who is contesting as independent, made this assertion at a time when the BJP had firmly put its weight behind Nayab Singh Saini, who was handpicked by the central leadership to replace Manohar Lal as the party’s chief ministerial face ahead of Lok Sabha elections.