Senior BJP leader Anil Vij announced he would stake a claim for the chief minister's post in Haryana, citing public demand and his seniority. This comes despite Nayab Singh Saini being named as the party's candidate.

Clarifying his party’s stance on Saini as CM face, Vij said that there is no bar on staking the claim. Asked about the timing of his decision with polls only a couple of weeks away, the MLA said he took the decision after people came to meet him.

Whether the party makes me or not, it is up to them. But if they make me CM, I will change Haryana's 'takdeer and tasveer' (face and destiny of Haryana), the Ambala Cantt MLA said.

Anil Vij was the Home Minister during the Manohar Lal Khattar government but was dropped from the cabinet in the reshuffle.

The six-time MLA's remarks come at a time when the party has already made it clear that Nayab Singh Saini will be the chief minister if the BJP returns to power.