Independent Candidate Chitra Sarwara Challenges BJP’s Anil Vij in Ambala Cantt

Chitra Sarwara, an independent candidate contesting from Haryana’s Ambala Cantt Assembly seat, is reportedly leading against Bharatiya Janata Party‘s (BJP) senior leader and former cabinet minister Anil Vij. According to the latest data provided by the Election Commission, Sarwara was ahead by 671 votes, having garnered a total of 17,000 votes after five rounds of counting.

Chitra Sarwara is pitted against Anil Vij, a six-term BJP Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Ambala Cantt, and Congress’s Parvinder Pal Pari in the 2024 Haryana Assembly elections. Anil Vij, a pivotal figure in the state’s political landscape, has previously announced his intention to claim the Chief Minister’s post if the BJP secures victory in the Assembly elections.

While the BJP has reportedly surpassed the halfway mark of 45 in the 90-member Haryana assembly, securing leads on 48 seats, the Congress is predicted to be ahead on 33, as per the Election Commission’s latest trends. The BJP is under the stewardship of Nayab Singh Saini, gearing up for a possible third term in Haryana. Meanwhile, the Congress, led by Bhupinder Singh Hooda, aims to recapture governance in the agriculture-driven state after a decade.

The contest in Ambala Cantt, a noted stronghold for the BJP, witnessed a multifaceted competition involving candidates from Congress, the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP), Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), and independents. Significantly, Chitra Sarwara, the daughter of former minister Nirmal Singh, was suspended by Congress for six years following her decision to run as an independent candidate.

In her campaign, Sarwara addressed several local issues, focusing on infrastructure deficits and administrative inefficiencies in the constituency. She asserted, “The development here is more cosmetic than real.” During her previous campaign, Sarwara also ran as an independent, ultimately losing to Vij by over 20,000 votes.

Conversely, Anil Vij highlighted his developmental projects, such as a ‘grand martyrdom memorial’ and enhanced water supply through canal systems. He noted the establishment of a new ‘Anaj Mandi’, an in-progress science center, and several other infrastructure developments as evidence of his effective governance. Emphasizing future projects, Vij mentioned a domestic airport and road improvements, which he claimed would significantly enhance trade and connectivity.