The day after skipping the swearing-in ceremony of the new Chief Minister Nayab Saini, senior BJP leader Anil Vij clarified his allegiance to the party. He stated, “I am a dedicated supporter of the BJP; circumstances may change, but I will continue to work for the party,” addressing reporters outside the Haryana assembly.
Anil Vij’s absence at the BJP legislature party meeting where Nayab Saini was elected as the leader caused a stir in Haryana’s political circles. Saini assumed the role of Haryana Chief Minister following Manohar Lal Khattar’s resignation along with his cabinet.
Vij’s discontent stemmed from the party’s decision to overlook him and promote Saini. This situation echoed a similar event in 2014 when Vij was a prominent candidate for the chief minister’s position after the BJP secured victory in Haryana independently. However, the party opted for first-time MLA Khattar instead.
Exiting the BJP’s meeting at Haryana Niwas before Saini’s swearing-in ceremony, Vij avoided directly addressing the meeting’s proceedings, stating that “those who have come from Delhi will provide the details.” When asked if Vij was unhappy about recent developments, Khattar mentioned that Vij’s name was included in the list of ministers to be included in the new cabinet.
Khattar also highlighted that Vij had experienced similar instances of discontent in the past, which were later resolved, indicating a pattern of temporary unrest.
Against the backdrop of these political developments, the Haryana Assembly is convening a special session today for the new Chief Minister to prove his majority through a floor test. The BJP has secured the support of six Independent MLAs, bringing its tally to 47, just above the majority mark in the 90-member Assembly. Additionally, five MLAs from Dushyant Chautala’s Jannayak Janata Party (JJP) are anticipated to join the BJP.
This leadership transition follows the breakdown of the alliance between the BJP and JJP, as they failed to reach an agreement on seat-sharing for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.
