Chandigarh: President of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Sunil Jakhar lashed out at Harish Rawat’s statement saying that next year’s election will be fought under Navjot Singh Sidhu. He said that it was undermining new CM, Charanjit Singh Channi’s authority.
“On the swearing-in day of Shri Charnjit Singh Channi as Chief Minister, Mr Rawatâs statement that âelections will be fought under Sidhuâ, is baffling. Itâs likely to undermine CMâs authority but also negate the very âraison dâĂȘtreâ of his selection for this position.” Sunil Jakhar tweeted.
Jakhar, whom sources had indicated was briefly considered as Amarinder Singh’s replacement, said he found Mr Rawat’s statement that “‘elections will be fought under Sidhu’ baffling” and warned that it could undermine the authority of Chief Minister-in-waiting Channi.
On Sunday, after announcing Mr Channi as the new leader of the party’s legislature body, Mr Rawat also told news agency ANI that next year’s election will be fought under Mr Sidhu, who is presently the Congress’s state chief; Mr Rawat called the former cricketer “very popular”.
“It (the party’s chief ministerial candidate) will be decided by the Congress president, but given the circumstances, the election will be fought with the Chief Minister’s cabinet (and) under the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, whose chief is Navjot Singh Sidhu, who is very popular,” he said.
Mr Rawat also said Mr Channi’s nomination had been unanimously approved – something the Congress wanted, so as to ensure maximum internal support for the new Chief Minister.
Sunil Jakhar, sources had said, was in the running to be that new Chief Minister.
He earlier tweeted in effusive praise of Rahul Gandhi – extolling his “bold leadership” after he called for a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party, or CLP, in the wake of Amarinder Singh’s resignation.
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