Vij supporters want Saini to resign as Ambala BJP chief

Manish Sirhindi

Tribune News Service

Ambala, November 14

The rift between two Haryana ministers over holding of “janata darbar” today got wider, as supporters of Health Minister Anil Vij demanded that MoS for Mines and Renewable Energy Nayab Singh Saini should resign from the post of district party president to ascertain “one man, one post” rule was upheld in the BJP.

Vij did not issue a statement today, while his supporters demanded Saini’s resignation on online platforms.

The Health Minister had yesterday objected to a “janata darbar” by Saini in his home constituency, Ambala Cantt.

He accused Saini of promoting “groupism” in the party. Besides holding the “janata darbar”, Saini had visited some local leaders, reportedly not in the good books of Vij. This further annoyed Vij and he asked Saini to “concentrate on his own constituency”.

Subsequently, Saini had taken a plea that being the president of the district unit of the party, he was free to visit any party worker in the district and had clarified that his intention was to work for the progress of Ambala under the guidance of Vij. This provoked Vij supporters to demand his resignation from the post of district president of the party.

A section of workers within the district BJP, however, threw their weight behind Saini, claiming being the Minister for Mines and Renewable Energy, Saini could hold a “janata darbar” anywhere in the state and Vij was raising an “unreasonable” issue.

Saini had, on November 6, visited party workers believed to be behind the missing picture of Vij from posters put up across Ambala Cantt to welcome Union minister Sushma Swaraj, who was to visit her brother here. Her visit was later cancelled.

Later, Saini placed district media incharge of BJP Balkesh Vats under suspension on charges of “anti-party” activities. Vats had earlier in the day put worker’s demand for Saini’s resignation on WhatsApp groups. Vats is considered a close aide of Vij.