Caught in deep political waters following rift regarding captainship, Punjab Congress’ top leaders — Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and State party president Navjot Singh Sidhu — on Thursday exhorted party’s national vice-president Rahul Gandhi to give the stranded ship a thrust by announcing the Chief Ministerial candidate’s name in a run-up to February 20 elections.
Rahul, who gave a major push to the party’s poll campaign in Punjab with his visit and also addressing a virtual rally, left it on the party workers to decide.
In a clear cut departure from the party’s previous stand to contest polls under “collective leadership”, Rahul Gandhi made it clear that the Congress would soon announce the name of the leader “who will lead the party in Punjab polls”.
“The question here is who will lead the party in Punjab...the media calls this CM candidate...Both Sidhu ji and Channi ji told me in the car that in Punjab, the big question is who will lead Congress in Punjab....It is clear that two persons cannot lead, it has to be any one. Both also assured me...and I am happy...that whoever leads, the other person would support and back him fully,” said Rahul.
“Though we don’t do it (announcing CM face) normally. But if the workers want, Punjab wants...We will decide on it...and for that, we will ask the party workers...