Congress rebels in BJP race for CM post in Haryana

CHANDIGARH: The BJP's dilemma over a chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming Haryana state assembly elections may have deepened with the entry of Congress party rebel Birender Singh.

“New entrants are definitely in the race for the post, otherwise why would rebels join the party?” asked BJP Haryana legislative leader Anil Vij. Although party sources say Vij is a contender, the four-time MLA from Ambala Cantonment denies he is in the race.

Birender Singh, who severed his four-decade old ties with Congress, has no qualms about expressing his ambition for the post..“It will be my dream as long as I am in politics,” Singh said. While his entry into BJP is without pre-conditions, Singh told EThe definitely expects “a position as per my stature in politics.” BJP is likely to play up him as the Jat face of the party in the state, where 37 per cent of the voters are from the community.

Another Congress rebel in contention for the CM’s post is Gurgaon MP Rao Inderjit Singh. The list of probables includes BJP state president Ram Bilas Sharma, national executive committee member Manohar Lal Khattar, national spokesperson Capt Abhimanyu and Kisan Morcha president Om Prakash Dhankhar. Rattled by the defections, the ruling Congress in the state is playing up the BJP’s dilemma.