Chandigarh: The Congress today denied rumours about rotational chief minister arrangement in Punjab. Rahul Gandhi will announce only one chief ministerial candidate tomorrow, said NDTV sources. Earlier there was a buzz that Rahul Gandhi would announce two chief ministerial candidates in his big reveal in Ludhiana on Sunday to accommodate both state Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu and current chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi.
Notably, this comes a day after Channi’s nephew Bhupendra Singh Honey amid the illegal sand-mining case, was arrested by Enforcement Directorate.
The state Congress Chief Sidhu has attacked on his rival candidate Channi and said the party must choose someone “honest and with a clean track record”.
Recently Congress had indicated Channi was favored for the top job. It is also running a public survey through IVR (Interactive Voice Response) calls to allow people of the state to choose who they favor for the post. Sources say Channi is leading that survey as well.
Following the arrest of Channi’s relative, Navjot Sidhu used the opportunity to present his case.
“If you choose someone devoid of moral authority, devoid of ethics or someone who is dishonest and part of some corruption and mafia, then people will vote for change and bury you like a mooli,” the Punjab Congress chief told NDTV in an exclusive interview.
In his attack Sidhu seems to have validating the Aam Aadmi Party’s accusations of Channi being the sand mining ‘mafia’ and on his part is protecting criminals involved in illegal sand mining.
“We need an honest candidate. Your destiny depends on what you choose. It is choice, not chance that determines your destiny. A ‘mafia-type person’ cannot implement your programmes. A person who himself is mafia protector-in-chief, how can he crack down on the mafia?” Mr Sidhu had said.
Channi has been nominated from two assembly constituencies leading to speculations around him being favoured by the party and allowing him a backup chance if he loses in one of the seats.
Sidhu has also repeatedly tried to project himself as the candidate.
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