The announcement of chief ministerial faces by rivals Aam Aadmi Party and Shiromani Akali Dal has spurred the ruling Congress in Punjab, which was trusting the ‘collective-leadership’ formula to keep its flock together.
The party has now made up its mind to announce the CM face but is hesitating to declare the same, keeping in view the possible after-effects.
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DELAY TO LEAVE NO OPTION FOR OPPOSITION
The two power centers — one led by Chief Minister Charanjit Channi and the other by Pradesh Congress Committee chief Navjot Singh Sidhu — have been eagerly waiting for the formal announcement since Rahul Gandhi announced in Jalandhar Cantt that “two persons cannot lead the Congress”.
Fearing a revolt, Rahul Gandhi has taken assurance from both the camps that the ‘party’s decision will be acceptable to all’.
However, despite the assurances given by both the Congress camps in Punjab, the party high command, according to sources, is delaying the announcement to contain a possible revolt.
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The announcement, said party sources, could be made right before the elections so that rival camps would not have any option to field candidates from either of the camps, in case of a revolt and subsequent defection.
MINISTERS WITH CHANNI
Interestingly, a group of Cabinet ministers have already thrown their weight behind Channi and want him to be declared as the chief ministerial face. Charanjit Channi, in a short span of three months, has established himself as an astute leader.
Several people-centric decisions taken by Channi during his short tenure as the chief minister has reduced anti-incumbency to some extent. He has also been able to establish his image as a ‘people’s chief minister’.
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Navjot Sidhu and his camp, on the other hand, are trying to convey that Sidhu has a vision and has come up with the Punjab model of development.
But what has hinted that Charanjit Singh Channi could be the party’s chief ministerial face is the decision to field him from two constituencies.
CONG’S CHANCE TO SHED USE & THROW IMAGE
Congress may also announce Charanjit Channi as his CM face to get rid of the ‘use-and-throw’ tag. The Opposition — Aam Aadmi Party, BJP, and Shiromani Akali Dal — had accused the Congress of using Charanjit Singh Channi as a tool to woo Dalits, saying it was hesitating to announce his name as the CM face.
In 2017, the then chief ministerial face Captain Amarinder Singh was also fielded from two constituencies.
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The decision, however, left the Sidhu camp fuming, with his media advisor Surinder Dalla advising Channi to contest for only one seat.
“Channi should have refused one of the tickets, like Navjot Singh Sidhu who said he would not go out of Amritsar. Navjot Sidhu has a vision for the development of Punjab. He should be declared as the Chief Ministerial face,” Dalla had said.
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