CHANDIGARH: In what kept the Congress MLAs on tenterhooks, the frontrunners for the new chief minister’s post kept changing on an eventful Sunday as three AICC observers brainstormed over the right choice with an eye on the next assembly elections.
Amid reports that a consensus had possibly emerged on the name of outgoing corporation minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, a large number of his supporters, including MLAs, thronged his residence. However, it soon turned out to be a long delay for an official announcement for them.
Earlier in the day, Congress leader Ambika Soni, who was called in for a late night meeting with Rahul Gandhi, declined the offer to become the Punjab chief minister.
Soni’s statement came amid deliberations that had the name of Sunil Jakhar, a prominent face of the party, as a possible choice.
However, there were reports of a section of leaders insisting that the new CM should only be a Sikh and also an MLA. Many Congress legislators, including Satkar Kaur, had even gone to greet Jakhar in the morning but the scenario changed quickly.
Channi came as surprise entry
Interestingly, the final choice of the party — Charanjit Singh Channi was not in the list of probables doing the rounds and came as a surprise entry. With no consensus on the new CM face through the day, the meeting of the Congress Legislature Party scheduled at 11am had to be deferred. The party could not decide on a name even though parleys had continued till late on Saturday evening. A large number of party workers, however, continued to throng the Congress Bhawan amid reports that Randhawa could be named as the next CLP leader
