Organised chaos: Why BJP is encouraging multiple chief minister claimants in Haryana

Who is the Bharatiya Janata Party’s chief ministerial candidate in the October 5 Haryana Legislative Assembly election? That question has emerged as an intriguing sub-plot.

The BJP has officially declared the incumbent chief minister Nayab Singh Saini as its candidate for the post.

However, during the campaign, at least two other BJP leaders in the state, former Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij and Union minister Rao Inderjit Singh, have publicly staked claim to the post.

This is unusual for the BJP, a party known for its discipline and lack of questioning of the official party line by members, at least in public.

According to political observers in Haryana, the BJP is tolerating, if not encouraging, such public claims against the party line. Since the BJP is on a weak footing in the state and looks unlikely to retain power, it has strategically calculated that multiple leaders projecting themselves as potential chief ministers is likely to enthuse their supporters and help the party electorally.

Another reason, observers say, could be Saini’s perception within the state of being a lame-duck chief minister.

Multiple claims

Earlier this month, Vij, a six-time MLA from the Ambala Cantonment constituency and one of the most senior BJP leaders in Haryana, said that he would stake claim for the chief minister’s...

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