Rao Inderjit Singh adds to BJP's woes: 'People of Haryana want me to be Chief Minister'

Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh, a sitting Lok Sbaha MP from Gurugram, is an influential leader from south Haryana. (File Photo: PTI)

Amid mounting pressure from several party leaders and faced with an unprecedented rebellion in its ranks over candidate selection ahead of the Haryana Assembly elections, four-time Lok Sabha MP and sitting Union minister Rao Inderjit Singh has staked his claim to the post of Chief Minister.

Speaking to the media after attending the nomination of loyalist Laxman Yadav in Rewari, Singh revealed his disappointment at not being named Chief Minister.

"Nayab Singh Saini’s name has already been announced by Amit Shah. We should all adhere to whatever decision the party's top leadership makes… The people still want me to be the Chief Minister. This is not just my personal wish but a desire expressed by the people.

Singh is a veteran Haryana leader and holds considerable sway in the southern region of the state. “If southern Haryana had not supported the BJP in the last two elections, Manohar Lal Khattar would not have been able to become Chief Minister twice," Singh said.

BJP battles rebellion

The development came on a day the BJP released its second list of candidates for the Haryana polls, resulting in yet another high-profile exit. Haryana BJP vice-president and former Deouty Speaker of the state Assembly, Santosh Yadav quit the party on Tuesday accusing it of prioritising leaders who have never worked for the organisation over those who have been loyal to it.

Yadav’s exit came amid a string of similar departures by leaders upset over being denied a ticket in the two lists of candidates declared by the party. On Sunday, another vice president of the Haryana BJP, GL Sharma, joined the Congress with more than 250 BJP workers.

A day earlier, former Haryana minister Bachan Singh Arya resigned from the BJP after the party decided to field Jannayak Janta Party rebel Ram Kumar Gautam, who had joined the party earlier this month, from the Safidon Assembly constituency.

Earlier, two Haryana ministers - Energy Minister Ranjit Singh Chautala and Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Social Justice Bishamber Singh Valmiki - and MLA Lakshman Napa, quit after they were denied tickets in the BJP’s first list of candidates. Key OBC leader Karan Dev Kamboj was another high-profile exit from the BJP for similar reasons.

‘Will address grievances’
In his interaction with reporters, Singh also touched upon the issue of rebel candidates and said that the BJP will work to address their grievances.

"If there is dissatisfaction within the party, we will work to address it. The candidates who win will be recognised. Those running as rebels have their rights, but the party must consider who originally brought them into the fold," he said, adding that it was evident that individuals who did not receive tickets could rebel.

“As a party worker, I came here to support Laxman Ji’s nomination and wish him the best. I urge everyone to set aside any grievances and work towards ensuring the BJP candidate’s victory," he said.

When asked for his views about the BJP’s "75 Paar" slogan, Rao Inderjit Singh smiled and chose not to comment.

Voting for Haryana’s Assembly elections is scheduled for October 5, with the counting of votes set to be undertaken on October 8.