Naib Saini and Anil Vij
Anil Vij’s candidacy for the post of Chief Minister in Haryana’s election battle has increased the Bharatiya Janata Party’s traction. Even though the BJP is initially trying to deny Vij’s claims, it is not easy for the party to ignore them. That too when Vij’s direct target is Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.
Active in politics for 6 decades, Vij is counted among the senior most leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Haryana. Vij was the chief ministerial contender in 2014 itself, but Manohar Lal Khattar won that time.
Vij’s claim was strongest when Khattar stepped down in March 2024, but the party fielded Naib Singh Saini.
Why did Vij claim for the post of CM?
There are two main reasons for this. The first reason is Anil Vij’s age. The 72-year-old Vij feels that if he does not become the Chief Minister this time, the path in the future will not be easy. Vij will turn 77 by 2029, where it will not be easy for the BJP to accept his claim.
Vij was also a CM contender in 2014, 2019 and early 2024, but the party did not accept his candidature all the three times.
Another reason behind Vij’s claim is the politics of pressure. Vij wants to create political pressure on the BJP high command during the elections by claiming the post of CM. Indeed, after Khattar’s departure, Vij is also running on the sidelines. They feel that if there is no pressure now, their demand will be fulfilled after the elections.
Political career of Anil Vij
Former Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij entered politics right from his student days. While studying at SD College, Ambala, he joined the All India Student Council. In 1970, he was made the general secretary of the organization. However, after this he went to the government job of State Bank.
In the early 1990s, when Sushma Swaraj’s political stature rose and she moved from Ambala to Delhi, the BJP asked Vij to contest from Ambala. Vij resigned from the government job and entered the field from Ambala camp.
After this, Vij has won assembly elections from Ambala Cantonment a total of 6 times. In 2014, when the BJP formed the government in Haryana, Vij was inducted into the cabinet. Vij Khattar was the senior most minister in the government.
The pain of not being the CM is coming up again and again
1. In March 2024, when Naib Singh Saini succeeded Manohar Lal Khattar as Chief Minister, Vij became angry and sat in Ambala. Finally Saini arrived to convince him. On March 22, 2024, Saini and Vij had a closed-door conversation for about 40 minutes.
2. On March 21, 2024, Anil Vij posted a couple on his social media. In which he wrote – There is something that our personality does not fade, our world has been our enemy for centuries.
3. In an event on 2 April 2024, Vij publicly said that in 2014, a government with an absolute majority was formed due to me, but Khattar was given the chair. In 2019, when Khattar did not form a full majority government, questions were not asked.
How strong is Anil Vij in Haryana?
1. Strong hold in Ambala, 10 seats here
Anil Vij is considered a strong leader in local politics of Ambala. He has a strong political hold in Ambala, Yamunanagar and Panchkula constituencies of Ambala Lok Sabha. There are a total of 10 assembly seats in these three districts. In 2014, the BJP won 10 out of 10 seats in these three districts, but in 2019 this number dropped to 5.
Anil Vij’s ticket was still in jeopardy in 2024, but considering the local political equations and Vij’s strong hold in Ambala, the party finally agreed to give him the ticket.
2. Punjabi face, they are about 8 percent of the population
Anil Vij is considered to be the biggest face of the Punjabi community in Haryana. Especially in Bharatiya Janata Party politics. This community constitutes about 8 percent of the population in Haryana. Which is the highest after Jat and Dalit community.
In many assembly constituencies along the Punjab border, this community constitutes about 30 percent of the population. Not only that, Punjabi community has a big role in BJP’s 35 vs 1 formula.
This is the reason that soon after Vij’s candidature, the BJP announced Sanjay Bhatia, who hails from this community, as the co-convenor of the campaign committee.
