BJP questions Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s locus standi to announce Punjab CM face

CHANDIGARH: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has questioned Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s locus standi to announce the party’s chief ministerial candidate in Punjab for the February 20 state assembly polls.


The BJP said Rahul holds no position in Congress at present.

The

BJP leadership

also attacked Congress over the reports of nominating two chief ministerial candidates for Punjab.

“It is like having two grooms for a single bride,” said Union minister for jal shakti and BJP in-charge for Punjab elections, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat.

“Rahul Gandhi does not hold any position in the party so in what capacity and authority will he be announcing the party’s CM candidate today?,” questioned Shekhawat.

He added that choosing the chief ministerial face is indeed the party’s prerogative, but people of Punjab would like to know what authority Rahul has in the party right now, other than being one of the 50 odd MPs belonging to the Congress.

The Union minister also pointed out that Rahul had resigned as the Congress president in 2019 in the aftermath of the party's defeat.

“His only qualification now is that he possesses a “Gandhi” surname,” quipped Shekhawat. He also criticized the party for excluding former Punjab Congress president Sunil Jakhar, one of the prominent Hindu faces, who enjoyed majority MLAs’ support, from the chief minister’s race just because he belonged to a particular religion.

“The Congress party owes an explanation not only to the people of Punjab but the country as a whole, as to why Jakhar was not considered for the CM’s position," questioned Shekhawat.