Congress leader Sunil Jakhar has claimed that Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu were the least favoured probables for the post of chief minister after Captain Amarinder Singh’s exit from the Congress last year.
Sunil Jakhar claimed that 42 of the 79 party MLAs wanted him to take over as the chief minister after Amarinder Singh stepped down, while only two MLAs favoured Charanjit Singh Channi. Giving details, he said 16 MLAs were in support of Sukhjinder Randhawa, the present deputy CM, 12 MLAs were in favour of Captain Amarinder Singh’s wife Preneet Kaur for the deputy CM post. Six MLAs wanted Sidhu as the chief minister. Jakhar also said he declined the offer to be the deputy chief minister.
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He added, “Despite being denied the top post, I am very happy that most MLAs trusted me. My only resentment is that despite getting the highest votes, I was offered only a Deputy Chief Minister’s post.”
Mr Jakhar had earlier criticised the Charanjit Singh Channi government over the breach in Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s security during his visit to Punjab.
This controversy comes days before the state goes to the polls. The results of the Punjab elections will be out on March 10. Congress is seeing a rise in infighting as the polls come closer. Earlier, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had said that CM Channi was chosen by the High Command’s vote.
(With inputs from agencies)
