Rahul Gandhi said that the decision on the Punjab chief minister’s face will occur after consulting Congress workers.
As both Channi and Sidhu press the matter, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said the party workers of Punjab will decide who will be the chief ministerial candidate in the assembly elections. “Demand for declaring party’s Punjab CM face will be met soon after consulting Congress workers,” Rahul said at a virtual rally in Jalandhar. “Normally, we don’t do this but if the Congress Party, our workers, and Punjab wants this, then we will take a decision on the CM face,” he said.
“Both chief minister chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu have assured me that they will accept the decision of the party and work unitedly,” Rahul added.
Repeating Rahul Gandhi’s words, CM Channi said “There is no fight between us. Announce chief minister face for Punjab polls, we (Punjab Congress) will stand united.” The issue of CM face has been a bone of contention between Channi and Sidhu, who are both strong contenders to lead the party in the polls. Both the leaders have earlier demanded that the party should declare a CM face in the state.
Rahul Gandhi was on a day-long visit to Punjab for campaigning for the forthcoming 2022 assembly polls. He visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar earlier today and ate ‘langar’ there. The Congress leader was accompanied by both Channi and Sidhu. However, five party MPs were not present during Rahul’s visit.
Amid suspense over the chief ministerial candidate of the Aam Aadmi Party, Congress on Monday sent an apparent signal of backing Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi in the poll-bound state. Congress shared a video in which actor Sonu Sood says the “real chief minister is the one who does not have to tell he is the chief ministerial candidate”. Sonu Sood’s remark was followed by several clips of Channi taking part in various events.
Notably, on a survey, it is revealed that Charanjit Singh Channi is the most popular chief minister’s face for Punjab.
