Chandigarh:  Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Anil Vij has staked his claim for the Chief Minister's position in Haryana ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. Speaking to media on Sunday, Vij highlighted his seniority within the party and his extensive electoral experience, having contested six elections without previously seeking any party favors.

"I am the senior-most BJP MLA in Haryana. Although I have never asked the party for anything, I am now claiming the Chief Minister's position based on my seniority, following the demand of the people," Vij stated. Despite his claim, Vij acknowledged that the final decision rests with the BJP's high command. "Whether they appoint me as Chief Minister is up to the high command. If chosen, I promise to transform Haryana," he added. Vij, who is the BJP candidate from the Ambala Cantt Assembly constituency, was previously Haryana's Home Minister under former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. However, he was dropped from the cabinet in a recent reshuffle, which saw Nayab Singh Saini appointed as Chief Minister.

Earlier, Vij had voiced his dissatisfaction with his exclusion from the cabinet, expressing feelings of being sidelined within his own party. "Some people have made me a stranger in my party, but sometimes outsiders can do more work than insiders," Vij remarked on May 2. Vij did not attend the new cabinet's swearing-in ceremony and left a Legislature Party meeting midway, reflecting his displeasure.

In March of this year, Nayab Singh Saini replaced Manohar Lal Khattar as Haryana's Chief Minister. Vij had been a prominent candidate for the position when the BJP first secured a majority in Haryana in 2014, but the party opted for first-time MLA Khattar. In the 2019 elections, Khattar retained his position as Chief Minister, with Vij holding key portfolios such as Home and Health.

The Haryana Assembly elections are scheduled for October 5, with the last date for filing nominations being September 12. Vote counting will take place on October 8. In the 2019 elections, the BJP emerged as the single-largest party with 40 seats, while the Congress won 30 seats.

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