Punjab Assembly Polls 2022: Charanjit Singh Channi is Congress’ Punjab CM Candidate, Says Rahul Gandhi

Rahul Gandhi says Charanjit Singh Channi is presumptive Punjab Chief Minister.

New Delhi: The suspense around Congress’ Punjab Chief Ministerial candidate has finally come to an end with party leader Rahul Gandhi announcing current CM Charanjit Singh Channi’s name for the post. “Charanjit Singh Channi will be the Congress’ chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections,” Rahul Gandhi said in a rally at Ludhiana.

“Punjab CM will come from a poor family, Channi will be CM face for the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections,” Gandhi said in presence of state party leaders. Expressing gratitude soon after, Channi said, “I thank everyone. This is a big battle which I can’t fight alone. I don’t have the money, courage to fight it. The people of Punjab will fight this battle.”

#WATCH | Congress leader Rahul Gandhi announces Congress' chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections 2022

"Punjab CM will come from a poor family, Chaani will be CM face for the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections," says Rahul Gandhi pic.twitter.com/SvnhvYAY3r

— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2022

Earlier on Sunday, Congress made an effort to project a picture of unity as Rahul Gandhi arrived at the party headquarters in Chandigarh in a car driven by former state unit chief Sunil Jakhar. Riding with them were Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Jakhar’s successor Navjot Sidhu – the two leaders battling over the top post.

Charanjit Singh Channi will be the Congress' chief ministerial candidate for the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections: Rahul Gandhi in Ludhiana pic.twitter.com/KW0aQ8wcpT

— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2022

It is not clear if Jakhar was in the running as well. His comments about being left out as he was not a Sikh had set off a controversy earlier this week and the matter was brought into spotlight by jeers from Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party, which is going all out to win Punjab.

The Punjab Congress tweeted the video from its official handle, accompanied by a post that read, “Shri @sunilkjakhar Ji drove the car for Shri @RahulGandhi Ji while @sherryontopp & CHARANJITCHANNI were seated in the back. This is how the ‘United Congress’ will drive the Congress to victory in Punjab!”

#WATCH | I have accepted Rahul Gandhi's decision…if I am given decision-making power, I will finish the mafia, improve people's lives. If not given power, I will walk with a smile with whomever you make CM: Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu in Ludhiana pic.twitter.com/pS71BUBkhW

— ANI (@ANI) February 6, 2022

The 5 states of Uttar Pradesh, Goa, Manipur, Punjab, and Uttarakhand will vote over seven phases starting February 10, with counting of votes scheduled for March 10.