Charanjit Channi is Congress' CM face in Punjab

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday declared Charanjit Singh Channi as the party's chief ministerial face for the upcoming Punjab assembly polls, scheduled for February 20. Gandhi made the announcement while addressing 'Aawaz Punjab Di' virtual rally in Ludhiana.

"It is Punjab's decision. It is not my decision. I didn't decide. I asked workers, candidates, MLAs, people, youth of Punjab. What people said has led me to my final decision," said Gandhi during his address, while praising Channi for his humble background.

Getting emotional after the announcement, Channi said that he has always been honest, never took a penny from anyone, and will continue to work honestly.

"I thank everyone. This is a big battle which I can't fight alone. I don't have the money, courage to fight it. The people of Punjab will fight this battle," he said.

Political observers said that the move was likely made to woo the Dalit Sikh community, which makes up 32% of the state's population.

The other main contender for the party's CM face was Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Both Sidhu and Channi had sent out overtures that announcing a CM face will auger well for the party in the upcoming state elections. Thereafter, altough not a common practice in Congress, the top leadership agreed to project a CM face before the elections.

In the public event in Ludhiana on Sunday, Rahul Gandhi heaped praise on Sidhu, Sunil Jakhar and several other Congress leaders from Punjab, saying that each is a "diamond" with immense capabilities.

Channi has been fielded from two seats by the Congress; he was also included in the star campaigners' list for Uttarakhand, while Sidhu was kept out. These were late indications that the scales were perhaps tilting in favour of Channi for the party's CM face in the state.

During the rally, Sidhu and Channi hugged on stage as Rahul Gandhi look on.