"Thank You Chief Minister For Taking Keen Interest into My Departments. I am Relaxed." This tweet by Haryana's outspoken Health and Sports Minister Anil Vij Monday created quite a buzz in ruling circles.
Not the one to mince his words on any matter, Vij did not hold back this time either.
Clearly upset at Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar showing "interest" in departments handled by Vij, the minister resorted to his twitter handle Monday to get back.
Khattar had Sunday launched the state government's "Khelega Haryana-Badega Haryana" campaign at Moti Lal Nehru Sports School, Rai, in Sonipat district.
Vij was conspicuous by his absence at the event. Khattar even participated in a symbolic marathon run with Vij being nowhere in sight.
In recent weeks, Khattar has dealt with issues related to the health department directly without taking Vij into confidence.
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Vij, who emerged as the most popular among all Haryana ministers in a recent survey done by a vernacular daily - single-handedly scoring as many votes as all other ministers got jointly - has been trying hard to streamline the functioning of the state's health department.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Khattar, assumed office Oct 26 last year. This is the first BJP government in Haryana since its creation Nov 1, 1966.
Vij, a veteran and well-known BJP leader who represents the Ambala assembly seat, was one of the top contenders for the chief minister's post. However, the BJP chose Khattar, a first-time legislator and former Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) ideologue.
This upset Vij and at least three other senior BJP leaders who were aspiring to be the chief ministers. All are now ministers in the Khattar government.
When the Khattar government completed 100 days recently, Vij tweeted: "Kuch log mujhe muhe mere kaam karne ke tareke se rokna chahate hain, parantu veh kabhi kamyaab nahin honge. Main apne tareke se he kaam karta rahoonga." (Some people are hell bent on stopping me from working my way but they will not succeed. I will continue to work my way).
Vij did not stop at this alone.
In another tweet later, he said: "There are many obstacles in politics in every step. I have not named anyone (regarding stopping him from doing his work). I had just expressed my resolve to work to mark the 100 days of the (Khattar) government. I will crush all such obstacles and move on."
This tweet caused embarrassment to the Khattar government.
Last week, the chief minister landed up at Vij's residence in Ambala city and had dinner with him.
Taking a dig, without referring to anyone, at his own government, Vij, in another tweet, said that he was not in politics to push the cart of the Congress party. This was linked to his being upset that the BJP government was following too many policies of the previous Congress government in Haryana.
After the BJP's debacle in the recent Delhi assembly polls, Vij tweeted: "If instead of importing leaders (from other parties), the BJP had concentrated on its promoting its own leadership in Delhi, the party would not have faced this situation in Delhi."
Taking a potshot at the Delhi loss in relation to BJP's win in Haryana last year, Vij tweeted: "Winning an election is not a big thing. Sustaining the victory is a bigger thing."