Anil Vij, one of BJP’s bigwigs and a chief minister claimant in Haryana, is seeking re-election for the seventh time from Haryana’s Ambala Cantt constituency. The six-time MLA has this time evidently drawn the anger of farmers, which was obvious with the farmers’ picketing during the BJP leader’s election meeting in several villages.

Notably, the former Haryana minister staked claim for the chief ministerial position if the party returned to power in the upcoming assembly elections, despite the saffron party announcement that the incumbent Nayab Singh Saini will remain as chief minister for another term. Though the farmers’ fury exists, political analysts are clueless of the poll outcome as the major challenger, and Congress candidate Parimal Pari also faces a rival party rebel Chitra Sarwara, potentially helping divide anti-BJP votes and thus aiding the saffron camp.

Read Also: Cricketer Virender Sehwag Campaigns For Congress’s Tosham Candidate

The grand old party suspended the rebel Congress leader for six years for anti-party activities following her decision to contest against the Congress candidate as an independent candidate. In the 2019 assembly elections, rebel Congress candidate Chitra Sarwara became Vij’s nearest contender by securing second with 36 percent votes, pushing the Congress to third with only 7 percent vote. Daughter of former minister Nirmal Singh, who is contesting as a Congress candidate from the adjoining Ambala City constituency, Sarwara was former Mahila Congress national general secretary.

However, the former Haryana minister, who was replaced after Saini became the chief minister, has aggressively campaigned for maintaining his legacy spanning over two decades as Cantt MLA. Known for being an accessible legislator with strong rapport with voters, Vij has established himself as a strong face in the party with a solid people’s mandate.

Read Also: “Congress Coming, BJP Going”: BJP’s Ashok Tanwar Joins Congress Days Ahead Of Elections

As earlier, the veteran BJP leader is confident to sail through his constituency for the seventh time, asserting that he is seeking re-election based on the work he delivered. The heat between the contestants has been more fiery, given the uncertainty of the BJP candidate over farmer’s anger and the challenge from the rebel candidate for the grand old party. Elections in Haryana will be conducted on October 5 and results will be announced on October 8 along with Jammu and Kashmir election result.