His name does not figure anywhere in the list of potential candidates for the prestigious post of Punjab Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has emerged as a ‘surprising’ option even after names of Ambika Soni, Navjot Singh Sidhu and Sunil Jakhar have cropped up.
The family of Randhawa, a well-known Akali Dal leader, has a long association with the Congress family. The traditional Congressman has been close to Captain Amarinder Singh, but earlier this year joined hands with his foe Navjot Singh Sidhu and attacked the Captain over his unfulfilled election promises.
Punjab is moving rapidly towards development after the resignation of Captain Amarinder Singh from the post of CM. Sidhu, who was earlier promoted as Punjab Congress chief, and resigned due to a month-long battle between three CLP meetings. The Captain said he felt “humiliated” by the developments.
Observers had earlier said that Sidhu would not get a call-up despite his proximity to the Gandhi family. However, a Congress leader cautioned against ruling out the possibility of Sidhu being chosen as Amarinder’s successor. Speaking to News18, the leader had said on condition of anonymity that Sidhu would continue. To be influential As the President of the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) before the elections next year.
Now, after hectic talks to finalize the name of the new leader of the Punjab Congress Legislature Party (CLP), Congress MLA Pritam Kotbhai has said that the party MLAs have proposed the name of Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa to become the new Chief Minister of Punjab. has kept.
Randhawa’s supporters have also reached his residence with a congratulatory bouquet.
Meanwhile, All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary and in-charge of Punjab affairs Harish Rawat and party’s central observers Ajay Maken and Harish Chaudhary are camping at a hotel here, discussing and taking feedback. Central observers were also in touch with the party leadership in Delhi.
Two Deputy Chief Ministers?
According to reports, the party may also go for two deputy chief ministers to balance the caste equations ahead of next year’s Punjab Assembly elections. Sources said that if the party goes for a Hindu face in the form of a CLP leader, then a Sikh and a Dalit may be made deputy CMs. Meanwhile, the party MLAs said that whatever decision the party leadership takes about the CLP leader, they will accept it.
The Punjab CLP meeting, which was scheduled to be held at 11 am on Sunday, was postponed as no consensus could be reached on the name of the new CLP leader. Earlier, several MLAs had gone to Jakhar and Randhawa’s residence to meet him.
Randhawa on Sunday said that he never craved for posts.
Asked whether his name was running at the fore, Randhawa told reporters that he or his family never aspire for any position. “The chief minister remains (in office) as long as his party and the people of the state stand by him,” he said in a candid take on Amarinder Singh.
‘angry’ captain
Hours before resigning as Chief Minister of Punjab, Amarinder Singh wrote to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, expressing the recent developments and concern that he might cause instability in the state. Singh had conveyed his decision to Gandhi on Saturday by writing a letter.
He said the political developments of the last nearly five months were “clearly not based on a thorough understanding of Punjab’s national imperatives and its major concerns”.
“Despite my personal suffering, I hope this will not harm the hard-earned peace and development in the state, and the efforts I have been focusing on during the past few years will continue, to everyone. In his letter to Gandhi, Singh indicated his apprehension of instability in Punjab as a result of political developments in the state unit of the Congress.
At the same time, he expressed satisfaction at doing his best for the people as Chief Minister of Punjab, which, as a border state, “has many geopolitical and other internal security concerns, which I have effectively addressed without any Tried to handle it. Compromise.”
He said he was happy that the state was “absolutely peaceful, and there is complete communal harmony without any ill-will towards anyone”.
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