Why BJP Remains Silent On Multiple CM Claimants In Haryana?

As assembly elections in Haryana near, many suspect that the BJP is facing a dilemma for asserting a chief ministerial candidate, as at least three prominent faces from the party have already claimed the position. Many think the claims by party members for the chief ministership come from the indiscipline in the state party unit.

The party has officially designated the incumbent chief minister, Nayab Singh Saini, as its candidate for the chief minister for another term. However, former Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij and Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh have publicly staked claim to the post, casting shadow over the party’s stance over the issue, especially given that the saffron party has been celebrated as a cadre party with a disciple.

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Notably, according to a report by Scroll, the party leadership is purportedly tolerating such public claims since the saffron party is obviously facing anti-incumbency in the election-bound state.

With several faces claiming the position, the party, according to several political observers, hopes it can accommodate and enthuse its voter base and ward off potential anti-incumbency sentiment. Anil Vij, a six-time MLA from the Ambala Cantonment constituency and one of the most senior BJP leaders, staked the claim for the position last month, asserting that he would change Haryana’s picture if allowed to helm the government.

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Reacting to the MLA’s comment, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had contened him, stating that the incumbent chief minister Saini is the BJP’s chief minister, adding that Vij may have said it as a party worker. The Union Minister is also the party in charge for Haryana assembly elections.

Besides Vij, Union minister Rao Inderjit Singh has also made public claims for the position while campaigning for the party. During a campaign event, he asserted his right to be the chief minister, noting that the BJP’s former chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar would not have come to power in 2014 or 2019 without the support of southern Haryana, where he holds significant influence.

Despite their claims, neither Rao Inderjit Singh nor Anil Vij have faced actions of slam from the party leadership for indiscipline within the party, though Home Minister Amit Shah has also declared that Saini will be the chief minister candidate of the party.

Although it is assumed that the lack of actions can be the BJP’s strategy to woo voters and minimize anti-incumbency, some argue that the public perception of the incumbent chief minister as weak could have been the factor for the other leaders’ claims for the position.

The news portal cited SK Chahal, professor and dean faculty of social sciences at Kurukshetra University, to note that the BJP is not only facing anti-incumbency sentiment but also unrest within its cadre over the distribution of tickets. As the party struggles, several leaders are striving for power, as per the professor.