The Congress on Sunday picked Charanjit Singh Channi as the chief ministerial face of the upcoming Punjab assembly elections. Party vice-president Rahul Gandhi made the announcement at a rally in Ludhiana amid loud cheers, saying, “The CM face of Punjab is Charanjit Singh Channi. We asked Punjab and you have given us the decision. It was a tough decision to make. Punjab needs a leader who can understand the poor, feel their anxiety."

Before declaring Channi as the CM candidate, Rahul said, “I asked him (Channi) what his father did for a living. Do you know his life? He understands poverty. Deeply so."

He added, “Punjab is Hindustan’s shield. This state has to choose its leader on its own. My job is to hear and understand your voice. I can have an opinion, but your opinion matters most. All our leaders are gems and I was given the tough task of choosing one of them."

“The whole of Congress will now work towards the vision of transforming Punjab," Rahul said, inviting Channi to say a few words after the announcement.

“This is a big fight; I am thankful to Punjab for choosing me as the CM hopeful of the Congress. 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," Channi said.

The other main contender for the party’s CM face was Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu. 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.

Sidhu, along with Congress leader Sunil Jakhar addressed the rally before Rahul made the announcement. Sidhu said, “I am thankful to Rahul Gandhi that he made me the Punjab Congress president in just the fourth year of my association with the party; my father also worked for this party. In my 13-year association of the BJP, I was only used as a campaigner. I respect Rahul ji’s decisions, and will continue to do so."

He then claimed that he had never sought any post or chair and only wants best for Punjab. “Rahul Gandhi is a lion, and he will not be indecisive. I had told him a story in 2017 of how a rabbit was run over by a car as it could not decide which way to go, but he is a lion," Sidhu added.

Image courtesy: PTI