Former Punjab Congress Chief Jakhar Backs Channi As CM Candidate; Says High Command’s Decision To Be Accepted By All

As per reports, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi might be declared the Congress' chief minister face for the Punjab assembly polls. Sources told news agency ANI that Channi is leading in the survey the party is conducting to choose the CM candidate.

Chandigarh: With Punjab Assembly Election 2022 around the corner, former state Congress chief Sunil Jakhar on Thursday extended his support to Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi as the chief ministerial candidate of the party. This came amid reports of infighting in the Punjab Congress over the coveted top post. Talking to news agency ANI, Jakhar said though the party High Command’s decision will be backed by everyone, in his ‘opinion’, Channi should be given time so that he continues working.

“What they (high command) decide will be accepted by all. But I’m of opinion that Channi ji has been given an opportunity, he should be given time so that he continues working. People have seen his good work in 4 months…,” said Jakhar.

Dismissing the reports of infighting in state unit of the party, the former Punjab Congress chief said it is “no rocket science” that any fight has to be fought under a unified command. “Obvious that only one would lead and others would have their own roles,” he said.

#WATCH | On CM face for Punjab, ex-state Congress chief Sunil Jakhar says, "What they decide will be accepted by all. But I'm of opinion that Channi ji has been given opportunity, he should be given time so that he continues working. People have seen his good work in 4 months…" pic.twitter.com/z8gAy6vx0W

— ANI (@ANI) February 3, 2022

As per reports, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi might be declared the Congress’ chief minister face for the Punjab assembly polls. Sources told news agency ANI that Channi is leading in the survey the party is conducting to choose the CM candidate.

“Opinions of candidates, workers, and party MPs are being recorded to so that any feud over the CM face between Channi and Navjot Singh Siddhu can be avoided,” said sources.

“Party is also calling general public through an automated call system to seek their opinion on CM face. The target of the party is to call around 1.5 crore people in the next 3 to 4 days,” they added.

Reportedlt, Congress coordinators are physically reaching out to the block president, district president and all candidates to collect their opinion and hand over to the party soon. Meanwhile, the party’s Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha MPs from Punjab are also being contacted to their feedback on the two leaders in the race for becoming CM face of the party.

“Party is making all these efforts because it is of the opinion the whole process should be transparent and the one who loses in the survey should not oppose the result in any manner,” said a senior party member to ANI.

“Both Channi and Sidhu will have to accept the decision of survey as they have agreed for it before Rahul Gandhi,” leader said.

According to sources, in its initial trends Channi is leading but the party wants to take sufficient time to announce it with proof, so that Sidhu’s displeasure can be handled.

While the Congress slammed Aam Aadmi Party over its process of choosing Bhagwant Mann as the CM candidate, it said that AAP has asked people to call them to give their opinion while Congress will itself call people asking for their opinion. “Party has already decided that it would make the event of announcing CM face a big event,” senior party leader added.

In the survey, questions are only being asked about Channi and Sidhu. Thus, party making it clear that there is no other face in the race.

In this survey of Congress, there are three questions in Punjabi language and they are being asked to give their opinion by pressing the button on the option of their choice on the IVR.

In Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party conducted a survey before declaring the CM face and claimed that in the survey, more than 22 lakh people chose Bhagwant Mann as the CM face of Aam Aadmi Party by sending votes, SMS and WhatsApp messages.

Punjab will go to the polls on February 20. The counting of votes will take place on March 10.

(With ANI inputes)