The Congress announced on Sunday that Charanjit Singh Channi has been elected as the leader of the Punjab Congress Legislative Party (CLP), paving the way for his appointment as the chief minister. The development comes a day after Congress veteran Amarinder Singh resigned as chief minister amid a bitter power tussle with state Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu with less than five months to go for the Assembly polls.
The surprise pick of Channi came amid reports of the party zeroing in on the name of Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa for the CM post, but a resistance from the Sidhu camp forced the party to rethink on its decision. Along with Randhawa, former Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar and the party’s current state unit president Navjot Singh Sidhu and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa were the frontrunners for the post of the CLP leader, who will be the new chief minister.
Names of senior party leaders Ambika Soni, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Brahm Mohindra, Vijay Inder Singla, Punjab Congress working president Kuljit Singh Nagra and MP Partap Singh Bajwa are also doing the rounds. However, Soni has rejected the CM post offer, saying that the next chief minister should be from the Sikh community.
Punjab Congress Crisis Live Updates: Charanjit Singh Channi, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Harish Rawat and Congress MLAs reach Raj Bhavan at Chandigarh.
Captain Amarinder Singh, who resigned as Punjab CM yesterday extends his wishes to new CM-designate Charanjit Singh Channi, tweets "I hope he’s able to keep the border state of Punjab safe and protect our people from the growing security threat from across the border."
Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu accompanying CM- designate Charanjit Singh Channi to meet the governor along with other party leaders.
'Congress leader Charanjit Singh Channi to be new Punjab Chief Minister,' tweets senior Congress leader Harish Rawat
No decision yet (on new Punjab CM), you will have to wait for 2-3 hours... announcement will be made today: Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa
Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has sought time for a meeting with Governor Banwarilal Purohit amid political developments in Punjab: Sources quoted by ANI
Two deputy CMs will be appointed along with CM in Punjab. 1 Hindu and 1 Dalit MLA to be appointed for the post: Sources quoted by ANI
After discussion with the Punjab MLAs, AICC has proposed the name of Sukhjinder Randhawa for the post of CM, a meeting is going on at the residence of Rahul Gandhi with Ambika Soni in Delhi, ANI quoted sources as saying.
All MLAs have named Sukhjinder Randhawa for CM before Congress high command, he will become the CM: Congress MLA Pritam Kotbhai, in Chandigarh
Not mine, don't know who's but it will be done for sure: Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhwa on whether he will be taking oath as Punjab CM today
Navjot Sidhu is not a traitor. If after now Capt Amarinder Singh calls Sidhu a traitor, then I will open the whole book. Capt's target is not Sidhu but the Gandhi family. I'll not allow Capt to target Gandhi family: Md Mustafa, advisor to Punjab Cong Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu
Capt. Amarinder Singh has been humiliating Punjab for the last 5 yrs. The people in this party have been tolerating him for the last 4.5 years. If I was the leader of the party, then I would have removed Captain from the party in 30 days: Md Mustafa, advisor to Navjot Singh Sidhu
We demand Congress to speak on this issue and put their version. Will Congress take cognizance of these allegations and take action on it: BJP leader Prakash Javadekar
Former Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh has called his party's state chief Navjot Singh Sindhu anti-national. This is a very serious allegation. BJP is asking only one question to Congress that why Sonia, Rahul & Priyanka are silent on this?: BJP leader Prakash Javadekar
Capt Amarinder Singh on Saturday wrote to Congress President expressing anguish at political events of the last about 5 months, which he said were clearly “not based on full understanding of the national imperatives of Punjab and its key concerns," says his office.
While former PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar’s name was finalised till last evening, the party had held it back after murmurs of protest during the CLP meet on Saturday.
A decision will be taken in the next 2-3 hours: Congress MLA Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on the announcement of new Punjab CM, in Chandigarh
"I hope that Captain Amarinder Singh ji will not take any step that will harm the Congress party...He is a respected leader of the party and I hope that he will continue to work keeping the interests of the party ahead," tweets Rajasthan CM and Congress leader Ashok Gehlot
The CLP meeting has been cancelled and the party leadership might announce the new chief minister without holding the meeting, reported News18.
It all depends on the Congress high command. This is the prerogative of the high command. CLP meeting was held yesterday and a mandate has been given. There is no need for another meeting of the CLP: Congress MLA Pargat Singh
We are awaiting Sonia Gandhi's orders. Immediately after, a decision will be taken in the CLP meeting. There is a background and issues behind the resignation of Captain Amarinder Singh: Congress MLA Kuldeep Singh Vaid after meeting with Sunil Jakhar, in Chandigarh
The resignation of Amarinder Singh as Punjab chief minister is a "panic reaction" of the Congress high command to salvage the situation ahead of assembly polls and shows that the state's ruling party is a divided house, the BJP said on Saturday.
The BJP expressed confidence that the people of Punjab, having lost trust in the Shironami Akali Dal (SAD) as well, will choose the party in the elections early next year as it alone can give the state a stable and progressive government.
A meeting of MLAs was held with Harish Rawat ji and Ajay Maken ji yesterday. A resolution was passed that Sonia Gandhi ji's decision will be final on this matter. Today you will get to know her decision: Pawan Goel, Working President, Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee