Rumblings of discontent in Haryana BJP gained momentum recently as state ministers scrambled to pacify their Cabinet colleague Anil Vij, who was left unhappy after the party “ignored” him for an initiative to win back constituencies it lost in the 2024 Assembly polls.
The state BJP last Tuesday appointed its ministers and MLAs in 42 constituencies that it failed to win. All Cabinet ministers except Vij, the party’s seniormost leader and seven-time MLA, were included in the list. Miffed over this, Vij last week announced a statewide tour to meet the party’s grassroots workers. BJP sources said he had even conveyed his displeasure to the senior leadership.
Announcing his intention to start the yatra, Vij told reporters Thursday, “They (other ministers) have been assigned one constituency each, but I have to oversee entire Haryana. I am the seniormost MLA of my party. I have won seven times. So, soon, I shall begin a statewide tour to meet both new and veteran party workers across various locations and check on their well-being.”
He also issued a stern warning to government officials that during his upcoming tours, he would monitor their functioning and assess if government schemes were being duly implemented. “Any laxity will not be tolerated,” he added. Vij is known for not tolerating any laxity by officials. On several occasions, he has issued directions to suspend officials in front of people.
Amid all this, Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Krishan Panwar said in Rohtak Saturday that “Vij was not given this responsibility because he was not keeping well”.
BJP sources said this statement left the veteran leader “fuming” and before he could make any more statements expressing his displeasure, several leaders reached out to him. Late Saturday night, Panwar issued a statement acknowledging Vij’s long-standing political career and his vast experience.
“State’s energy, transport and labour minister Sh. Anil Vij is a leader who is well-respected, experienced and committed to people’s welfare. His decades-long political experience and commitment towards people’s welfare have made him an extremely popular leader among people. I respect Sh Anil Vij a lot. People from across the State reach out to Anil Vij with their grievances and he helps them all,” he said.
Clarifying his previous comment, he said it was “being given a twist on social media. Sh Anil Vij’s political experience is an inspiration for several public representatives”.
On Sunday morning, Panwar visited Vij’s residence and spent over an hour with him. However, both leaders refrained from publicly discussing it.
Vij is politically crucial in the Ambala division that has 18 Assembly constituencies. Though the BJP swept the region in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, taking a lead in all 18 Assembly segments, it won only nine in the Assembly elections a few months down the line and again took the lead in only nine Assembly segments in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. In the last Assembly elections, while the party retained power, the Congress outperformed the BJP in this region, winning 12 seats.
Duties assigned
All other ministers in Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini’s government, except Vij, have been assigned specific constituencies that the party lost in the Assembly polls.
Dr Arvind Sharma has been assigned Garhi-Sampla-Kiloi (represented by Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda), Vipul Goel has been given charge of Rohtak (represented by B B Batra, Congres), Aarti Rao is in charge of Jhajjar (Geeta Bhukkal, Congress), Krishan Panwar has been given Adampur (Chander Parkash, Congress), Mahipal Dhanda has Guhla Cheeka (Devender Hans, Congress), Rao Narbir has Prithla (Raghubir Tewatia, Congress), Shyam Singh Rana will be responsible for Naraingarh (Shalley Chaudhary), Ranbir Ganga has Tohana (Paramvir Singh), Gaurav Gautam has been assigned Dabwali (Aditya Devilal, INLD), Shruti Chaudhary will lead the efforts in Ellenabad (Bharat Singh Beniwal, Congress), Krishan Kumar Bedi in Sirsa (Gokul Setia, Congress), and Rajesh Nagar in Hisar (Savitri Jindal, Independent).
Known for mincing no words when it comes to criticising his party colleagues, Vij had taken on Saini in January, saying, “Since assuming office, he (Saini) had been on an ‘udan khatola (helicopter)’. If he comes down, he will see the suffering of people.”