Haryana: Senior BJP Leader Anil Vij Stakes Claim For Chief Minister Post, Citing Seniority

Senior BJP leader and former Haryana Minister Anil Vij announced on Sunday (15 September) that he plans to stake claim for the Haryana chief ministership, citing his seniority, should the party emerge victorious in the upcoming state Assembly elections.

Vij's remarks come amid the BJP's decision to endorse current Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini as the party's face for the chief minister's post.

Addressing the media, Vij, who is a six-time MLA, said, "I never sought anything from the party till today... But, this time, based on my seniority, I claim for the chief minister's post... people from Haryana are coming to meet me. Even in Ambala, people tell me that I am senior-most why I did not become Chief Minister. On-demand of the people, and on the basis of seniority, this time I will stake claim to become chief minister".

"If the party appoints me as the Chief Minister of Haryana, I will change the destiny and picture of Haryana," Vij added.

Earlier in March, Vij was left out of the newly formed Haryana cabinet after Nayab Singh Saini succeeded Manohar Lal Khattar as Chief Minister.

The BJP has fielded Vij from the Ambala Cantt Assembly seat and on 11 September, he filed his nomination in the presence of senior party leaders.

Polling in Haryana will take place on 5 October while the votes will be counted on 8 October.

Vij's announcement comes as the BJP is facing rebellion in Haryana with many of its leaders quitting the party over the ticket distribution.

Vice president of Haryana BJP and former deputy speaker Santosh Yadav resigned after the party denied her ticket.

Similarly, executive member of the Haryana BJP unit Shiv Kumar Mehta also resigned after failing to get party ticket from Narnaul.

State BJP spokesperson Satyavrat Shastri also resigned from the party after being denied a ticket and alleged that the party moved away from its values and was under the influence of "opposite ideology" people.

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