Featured

6-Time MLA Wants To Be Haryana CM If BJP Wins; Dharmendra Pradhan Snubs Him

By
OB Bureau

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), aiming for a third successive term in Haryana, could face an awkward situation if it wins the Assembly polls scheduled on October 5.

Senior leader and former minister Anil Vij said on Sunday he will stake claim for the chief minister’s post if the saffron party returns to power, as he was the “best CM candidate in the BJP”.

Coming as it did three weeks before voting day, Vij’s claim led to raised eyebrows in Haryana.

Not only does BJP claim to have a “disciplined culture”, the party has made it clear that Nayab Singh Saini will continue as chief minister if they receive people’s mandate again.

Union minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who is BJP’s Haryana election in-charge, was quick to try and dissolve the controversy.

Ruling out the possibility of change in chief minister if BJP wins, Pradhan said: “BJP’s CM candidate is Nayab Singh Saini,” as he exuded confidence about his party wining a third term in Haryana.

Saini, an OBC face, was brought in to replace Manohar Lal Khattar in March to counter the anti-incumbency threat ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election. It didn’t work, as BJP lost 5 of the 10 seats it had won in 2019.

BJP’s losses to Congress included Ambala Lok Sabha seat, which includes Vij’s Ambala cantonment area.

The 71-year-old Vij has won six times from Ambala and is again the party’s candidate.

Addressing a press conference in Ambala cantonment on Sunday, Vij highlighted several projects that he initiated during his time as MLA or Health and Home minister in the Khattar-led state cabinet.

“People come to me from across the state. Wherever I have been, people ask me as to why I never became the CM despite being the senior-most leader. Based on the demands raised by people of Haryana and considering my seniority in the party, I shall stake a claim for the CM’s post. Whether the party makes me the CM or not, it is their prerogative. To date, I have never sought any post from the party, but today, I am staking claim for the post of the CM. If the party makes me the CM, I shall definitely change the face and fate of Haryana,” said said, claiming to be the senior-most leader.

Vij, a firebrand BJP leader, was considered to be among frontrunners for CM’s post in 2014, when BJP formed the government with an absolute majority for the first time. He was, however, pipped to the post by Khattar.

Well, we have to wait for four-five weeks to find out whether Vij tones down his current demand, or BJP finds itself in a situation faced by Congress in the past in states like Rajasthan.

OB Bureau

Recent Posts

States Can’t Take Over All Private Properties For Common Good, Rules SC

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday held that states are not empowered by the…

November 5, 2024

Centre Sends Notice To Wikipedia Over ‘Bias & Inaccurate Information’

New Delhi: The central government has sent a notice to Wikipedia—which endorses itself as a…

November 5, 2024

4 Journalists From Odisha Injured In Road Accident In Tamil Nadu

Bhubaneswar: Four journalists from Odisha sustained critical injuries when as the SUV carrying them rammed…

November 5, 2024

‘Untimely’ Rath Yatra In Huston: Puri Gajapati Asks ISKCON Not To Test Patience Of Lord Jagannath Devotees In Odisha

Puri: Gajapati Maharaja Dibyasingha Deb on Tuesday said legal action would be initiated against International…

November 5, 2024

Madrasas Can Now Function In UP, SC Upholds Constitutional Validity Of 2004 Act

New Delhi: In a big relief to about 16,000-odd madrasas in Uttar Pradesh, the Supreme…

November 5, 2024

Social Worker Critical In Sword Attack By Bike-Borne Miscreants In Odisha Capital

Bhubaneswar: A young man, stated to be a social worker, was critically injured after being…

November 5, 2024

Cricket, Queen Of Hearts, Social Media & The Big Rohit-Virat Question

Off with his head', orders the Queen of Hearts and off goes a head. The…

November 5, 2024

Canadian Cop Suspended For Protesting Outside Hindu Temple Holding Pro-Khalistani Flag

Ottawa: A Canadian cop, identified as Sergeant Harinder Sohi—a Peel Regional Police officer— was reportedly…

November 5, 2024