Sidhu or Channi: Congress resorts to people’s opinion to choose its CM face for Punjab assembly election

Amid the rat race of congress CM face for the forthcoming assembly election in Punjab, the congress high command seeks people’s opinion through IVR calls. The names of CM Charanjit Singh Channi and party president Navjot Sidhu is doing rounds for the top post. The duo have seen convincing directly or indirectly to Rahul Gandhi in his recent visit to Punjab.

As per party sources, the people have provided with the three options in the IVR calls. CM Channi’s name has been given as the first option, followed by Navjot Singh Sidhu. The third option seeks whether the Congress should contest without a CM face. 

A few days back, Sukhwinder Singh Randhawa and Sunil Jakhar claimed that they got the maximum votes for the CM face after captain’s exit. However, it is pertinent to mention that their names have not been included in the IVR calls by the party high command. 

As the SC and ST community has taken the loin’s share of vote bank in Punjab, the Congress is pining its hopes on Charanjit Singh Channi who belongs to the schedule caste community. The Congress has fielded him from two seats -- Chamkaur Sahib and Bhadaur -- in the state assembly polls. 

Now it is interesting to see how the Congress High command tackles this situation as both Channi and Sidhu’s camp is waiting baited breath for the formal announcement of CM face for the forthcoming assembly election. 

The Congress is contesting against the AAP, the SAD-BSP and Amarinder Singh's Punjab Lok Congress in Punjab assembly election on 20 February.