Vij: Admn tried to defeat me, but won by public support

Senior BJP leader Anil Vij, who secured his seventh consecutive victory from the Ambala Cantonment Assembly segment, has claimed that not only his political opponents but also the Haryana administration attempted to undermine his chances in the election. Despite these challenges, Vij expressed gratitude to the residents of Ambala for their unwavering support.

“I’m thankful to the people of Ambala for electing me for the seventh time. Although no star campaigners rallied here and there were significant issues such as pending projects and the farmers’ agitation, the people still chose me,” Vij said, reflecting on his victory by a margin of 7,277 votes over Independent candidate Chitra Sarwara.

Vij’s campaign lacked high-profile support, with only brief visits from Union ministers Manohar Lal Khattar and Dharmendra Pradhan. However, the BJP leader downplayed this, stating, “In all my eight elections, I’ve never relied on star campaigners. My supporters and party workers are my strength. Many were against me, including the administration, but there was pro-incumbency due to the work we’ve done — changing the system and tackling corruption.”

While Vij did not elaborate on his remarks regarding the administration’s opposition, a close aide suggested the delay of key infrastructure projects, including road developments in Ambala Cantonment, contributed to the tension. “Tenders were allotted, but the work was delayed, causing frustration among the residents,” the aide explained.