New Delhi: Haryana cabinet minister Anil Vij on Monday raised a storm in the political landscape by accusing Ashish Tayal, a self-proclaimed friend of chief minister Nayab Singh Saini, of being involved with rival Independent candidate Chitra Sarwara during the 2024 assembly elections. Vij posted pictures on social media platform X, alleging that Tayal, despite his close association with Nayab Saini, was seen with Sarwara’s supporters. He questioned the nature of his relationship with the opposition candidate.
Vij’s post on X read: “Ashish Tayal, who calls himself a friend of Nayab Saini, has many pictures with Nayab Saini on Facebook. The same workers who are seen with Ashish Tayal during the assembly elections are also seen with the BJP’s opposing candidate Chitra Sarwara. What is this relationship called? Tayal is still Nayab Saini’s best friend, so the question arises who made him oppose the BJP candidate?”
आशीष तायल जो खुद को नायब सैनी का मित्र बताते हैं उनकी फ़ेसबुक पर नायब सैनी के साथ अनेकों चित्र मौजूद हैं। आशीष तायल के साथ विधानसभा चुनाव के दौरान जो कार्यकर्ता नजर आ रहे हैं वही कार्यकर्ता चित्रा सरवारा भाजपा की विरोधी उम्मीदवार के साथ भी नजर आ रहे हैं।
ये रिश्ता क्या कहलाता… pic.twitter.com/xCqEl1znw8— Anil Vij Minister Haryana, India (@anilvijminister) February 3, 2025
Vij claims effort was made to defeat him in 2024 polls
Vij in recent past has levelled serious political allegations against state BJP leadership, including claims that an effort was made to defeat him in the 2024 Ambala Cantt constituency elections. “Since I am the senior-most leader and I am saying that efforts were made to defeat me, action should have been taken immediately… but even after 100 days, nothing has been done,” Vij said.
This latest development follows Vij’s ongoing discontent within the BJP. In a separate remark, Vij had claimed that despite publicly raising the issue of alleged sabotage during his election campaign, no action had been taken against those responsible.
Vij on Friday also took a jibe at Saini. Talking to media persons, he said, “Still, this is a very serious matter. And it is so because our Chief Minister does not come down from the ‘udan khatola’ (chopper). Since the day assumed office, he has been on the ‘udan khatola’. If he comes down, he will see the suffering of the people. This is not just my voice, but the voice of all MLAs and ministers.”
Vij also calls for state BJP president’s resignation
Vij, a seven-time MLA, had previously stated his dissatisfaction with the leadership for not consulting him when the decision was made to replace former chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar with Saini.
Vij has also called for the resignation of state BJP president Mohan Lal Badoli. He asserted that Badoli, who faces gangrape charges, should step down for the sake of the party’s image and principles. “To uphold the party’s principles, he should step down immediately. Even our senior leaders, like Advani Ji, resigned when allegations were made against them,” he said.
