Senior BJP leader and former Minister Anil Vij announced on Sunday that he will seek the chief minister’s position if the party wins the Haryana Assembly elections on October 5.
Vij, a six-time MLA, made his claim despite the BJP’s prior announcement that Nayab Singh Saini will be the chief minister if the party comes to power.
“I never sought anything from the party till today… people from Haryana are coming to meet me. Even in Ambala, people tell me that I am senior-most why I did not become CM. On demand of the people, and on the basis of seniority, this time I will stake claim to become chief minister,” Vij said, as quoted by PTI.
He added, “Whether the party makes me or not, it is up to them. But if they make me CM, I will change Haryana’s ‘takdeer and tasveer’ (destiny and face of Haryana).”
When asked to clarify his remarks, Vij said, “I am the party’s senior-most MLA and have won six elections and am contesting my seventh one. I have never sought anything from my party so far. But people from across Haryana and people of my own constituency have been meeting me… I will stake claim for the chief minister’s post.”
“It is up to the party high command to take a call,” he added. When reminded that Saini has already been declared the chief ministerial candidate, Vij said, “There is no bar on staking the claim. I will make my claim, let the party take a call.”
The timing of Vij’s decision, just weeks before the elections, was prompted by persistent requests from his supporters, he said. “People have been regularly meeting me and asking me about this (that he is senior most and yet not become CM).”
In March, Manohar Lal Khattar was replaced by Saini as chief minister.
In the 2014 elections, when the BJP first came to power in Haryana, Vij was among several leaders considered for the CM position but the party chose Manohar Lal Khattar, then a first-time MLA.
Recently, the BJP has faced discontent from some leaders who were denied tickets, including Ranjit Singh Chautala, Laxman Napa, and Karan Dev Kamboj. Former Minister Ram Bilas Sharma was also denied a ticket this time.
Vij had previously expressed dissatisfaction with the party for not informing him about Saini’s appointment and had skipped Saini’s swearing-in ceremony. In April, while speaking at a public event, Vij suggested that some within the party had marginalized him, saying, “Mana kuch logo ne mujhe meri party mein he begana bana diya hai, parantu kayee baar begane apno say bhi zyada kaam kar jaate hai,” which translates to, “It may be true that some people have made me a stranger in my party, but sometimes strangers do more work than own people.”
Vij, who held the home portfolio in Khattar’s government, was often at odds with Khattar.
Polling for Haryana’s 90 assembly seats will take place on October 5, with results on October 8.