Channi or Sidhu? Rahul Gandhi says party workers will decide CM face for Punjab election
Rahul Gandhi said, “Two people can't lead. Only one will lead. Both of them promised me that the other person will commit to helping whoever becomes the CM face. I was listening to them. I was happy.”
Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said the Congress will announce a CM candidate for the upcoming Punjab Assembly Election 2022 as both chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu urged Rahul Gandhi to announce a CM face ahead of the polls, instead of the collective leadership. But the decision will have to be taken by the party workers, Rahul Gandhi said.
"We have had a talk in the car that who will lead Punjab going forward. Media people call this the CM candidate. Both Channiji and Sidhuji told me that this is the most crucial question in front of Punjab Congress is that who will lead the Congress," Rahul Gandhi said.
Also Read: On question of Punjab Congress CM face, Navjot Sidhu says this
"See, two people can't lead. Only one will lead. Both of them promised me that the other person will commit to helping whoever becomes the CM face. I was listening to them. I was happy. Then I thought that both of them are committed to the party, which is not only a political party," Rahul Gandhi said.
Full coverage of Punjab Assembly Election 2022
On the first day of Rahul Gandhi's election campaign in Punjab, he addressed the most crucial issue – whether the Congress will choose Sidhu for CM or will go with Channi if the party retains Punjab. Amid apparent tension between Channi and Sidhu, they put up a show of camaraderie as Channi hugged Sidhu and said there is no fight between them. "People say there is a fight between us. Announce the chief minister face for Punjab polls and we will stand united, Rahul Gandhi ji," Charanjit Singh Channi said as Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was also present at the gathering.
Urging Rahul Gandhi to decide a CM face for the upcoming Punjab Assembly Election 2022, Channi said, “People of Punjab wants a CM face for the election. Sidhu saab has already talked to you about this. I am also saying this," the chief minister said.
Later, Rahul Gandhi took to Twitter and announced that soon there will be a CM face as demanded by Channi ji, Sidhu ji, the people of Punjab and the Congress workers in Punjab. “I promise that we will choose a candidate according to your preference. And other leaders of Punjab will work together to strengthen the new government in Punjab,” Rahul Gandhi tweeted.
In a recent Twitter poll, conducted by Rahul Gandhi's aide Nikhil Alva, maximum people have voted for Channi as the CM face. While Channi received 68.7% of the votes, Sidhu got 11.5% and 9.3% votes were polled in favour of Sunil Kumar Jakhar. A 10% of votes were in favour of no CM face, which the party decided so far.
