Nayab Singh Saini named Haryana CM, Anil Vij upset

In a latest development in Haryana’s political landscape, Nayab Singh Saini, an MP from Kurukshetra MP Nayab Singh Saini who holds the portfolio of the state BJP president and close confidant of former Chief Minister Manohar Lal, has been appointed new Chief Minister of Haryana here on Tuesday replacing two time Chief Minister Manohar Lal from post. On February 12, Manohar Lal met governor Bandaru Dattatreya and resigned along with his cabinet ministers. Besides, another major political development was witnessed in the state politics as the BJP gave a big blow to its ally JJP in the government bringing its alliance to an end.

Bringing the collaboration to an end on Tuesday morning, the former Chief Minister Manohar Lal accompanied by former Home Minister Anil Vij visited Governor Bandaru Dattatreya at Raj Bhawan and handed over his resignation. In this series, a meeting of the BJP legislature in the presence of two observers Tarugh Chugh and Arjun Munda which lasted for around two hours and led to deciding the new Chief Minister of Haryana. Meanwhile, Anil Vij who held the portfolio of the Home Minister along with three ministries, walked out of the meeting citing his disappointment with the decision taken at the BJP legislative meeting. One of the BJP stalwarts said on anonymity that the decision of appointing Nayab Saini as new Chief Minister annoyed Vji as he did not agree with the same and it was the key reason for his displeasure and walk out. Before this, there was continuous and constant discussion on social media about the removal of Manoh ar Lal from the post and appointing Naib Saini as the new Chief Minister.

It is noteworthy that a day earlier on February 11, in the inauguration program of Dwarka Expressway in Gurugram,, Showring praise on Manohar Lal PM Narendra Modi clearly indicated that he will continue to be the Chief Minister of Haryana and the upcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly will be fought under his leadership, but contrary to all the expectations and political speculations-equations, the BJP high command removed him from the post and made Naib Saini, who comes from the OBC category, the new Chief Minister. Political experts are of the opinion that appointment of Nayab Sain as new CM is being considered a calculative and strategic move to galvanise OBC voters who constitute around 30 percent of the total vote bank in Haryana. In such a situation, BJP has given new responsibility to Naib Saini while focusing on the OBC category.

On social media ‘X’ Nayab thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, party president JP Nadda and others after being elected for the post writing “On being unanimously elected leader of the BJP Legislative Party, Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi, Home Minister Shri @AmitShah, National President Mr. @JPNadda @BJP4Haryana State in-charge Mr. @BjpBiplab former Chief Minister @mlkhattar, thanks to all the MLAs and independent MLAs. While reacting to a query pertaining to the displeasure of Anil vij, Sanjay Bhatia, an MP from BJP and loyalist to Manohar Lal out rightly rejected the same stating that the meeting of the BJP legislature is still going and there is no such fued or displeasure. It is pertinent to mention that former Chief Minister Manohar and Anil Vij have been at loggerheads over several issues including dispute over portfolio of Home Department and CID, IPS transfers and controversy pertaining to former DG Health Sonia Trikha Khullar.

Not only this, recently he had distanced himself from the Health department by expressing his displeasure over the interference of the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) and this dispute continued for about two months.