Punjab Polls: Congress CM Face Will Be Announced on 6 Feb, Says Charanjit Channi

Rahul Gandhi said last week that the CM face would be declared after consultations with party workers.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi (right) and state Congress chief Navjot Singh (left).

(Photo: PTI)

The Congress will announce the party's chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections on Sunday, 6 February, when Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to visit the state, said Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi on Thursday, 3 February.

"I will be with RahuI Gandhi on that day," Channi added.

Last week, Gandhi said at a virtual rally in Jalandhar that the CM face would be declared after consultations with party workers.

The party is seeking responses from Congress leaders and workers through its Shakti app, ANI quoted party sources as saying.

The consultation process started two days ago and the party has also sought the opinion of common people on the issue.

Channi or Sidhu?

It appears that the choice of a CM face is primarily between Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and state Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Last week, Rahul said that whoever would "lead in Punjab," the other person would support him.

"Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and State Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu have assured me that whoever will lead (be the chief ministerial face) in Punjab, the other person will support him."

Rahul Gandhi, Congress leader

'Sidhu is a Hero, It Doesn't Matter Who Will be the CM': Navjot Kaur Sidhu

Meanwhile, Navjot Singh Sidhu's wife, Navjot Kaur Sidhu, addressed reporters on Thursday and called him a 'hero.'

"Navjot Singh Sidhu is a hero, he will remain a hero, it doesn't matter who will be the CM. The only thing that matters is that whoever will be the CM should listen to ministers, sign their files and let them work," she stated, ANI reported.

She went on to censure former Punjab CM Amarinder Singh, who resigned from the party amidst an ongoing rift with Sidhu.

"Had Capt Amarinder Singh done the same (listened to ministers), nobody would have had a problem with him. He should have worked and respected other ministers," she said.

'One Would Lead, Others Given Their Roles': Sunil Jakhar

The leader's remarks come amidst speculations of infighting in the Punjab Congress, with both Sidhu and Channi rallying for the chief ministerial nomination.

Former Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar, who is also being considered as a CM face said that there is no “rocket science” behind the fight as it is “obvious” that one would lead and others would be given their own roles, reported ANI.

He said, "No rocket science when it's said that any fight has to be fought under a unified command. Obvious that only one would lead and others would have their own roles."

However, the party seems to be putting its weight behind Channi, who is the first Dalit chief minister of Punjab and is the three-time MLA from Chamkaur Sahib.

Channi is also the only party candidate to be fielded from two seats — Badaur and Chamkaur Sahib.

Dalits comprise one-third of the Punjab population and the party hopes to consolidate its SC/ST vote bank.

(With inputs from PTI)