Congress picks Charanjit Singh Channi as Punjab CM face

Ending weeks of suspense over the chief ministerial face for Punjab assembly elections, Rahul Gandhi today named Charanjit Singh Channi as the CM face for the upcoming polls.

Rahul Gandhi, is in Punjab to address the 'Aawaz Punjab Di' virtual rally. Commenting on the grand old party and its way of shaping young talents, Rahul said Congress does not have a dearth of diamonds, the party is full stars.

Moments after the announcement, the incumbent Punjab CM tweeted "I sincerely thank the Congress High Command and people of Punjab for bestowing their trust in me. As you have seen us work so hard in the last 111 days to take Punjab forward, I assure you to take Punjab and Punjabis on the path of progress with new zeal and dedication."


The party had taken feedback from its leaders and workers, and had also sought the opinion of the public on who should be its chief ministerial candidate through an automated call system.

“A leader is not made in 10-15 days. He is born from fights and struggles. Sidhu, Channi, Jakhar— all have walked on difficult paths and learnt. Too difficult to pick a diamond among so many diamonds,” says Rahul Gandhi.

In a separate statement, Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu said the right choice in terms of the party's chief ministerial candidate could ensure victory for the Congress on at least 70 assembly seats in the upcoming election.

Punjab will go into the polls on February 20 and the counting of the votes will be done on March 10.

In a related incident, The BJP on Sunday questioned the locus standi of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to announce his party's chief ministerial face for the Punjab Assembly polls, saying he doesn't hold any position in the party right now. Rahul Gandhi on Sunday arrived in Ludhiana for a virtual rally and he will announce the chief ministerial face of the party.