Punjab: All Congress MLAs have unanimously proposed Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa as the future Punjab chief minister, and their decision has been communicated to the party high leadership, MLA Pritam Kotbhai stated today. The All India Congress Committee (AICC) has also expressed support for the decision.
The 62-year-old minister, who hails from Gurdaspur district and has served as a three-time MLA, was the outgoing cabinet’s Jails and Co-operation Minister. His father, Santokh Singh, was a two-term president of the Punjab Congress, and he has also served as Vice President of the Punjab Congress.
In Punjab, the political drama took a new twist today, with prominent leaders claiming that the Congress Legislature Party conference intended to select a replacement for Captain Amarinder Singh had been cancelled, and that a direct statement from the top brass was imminent. In the absence of a clear consensus on Captain’s replacement, the party may go for a chief minister and deputy chief minister. Sources said they had been unable to find someone to replace Singh’s enormous shoes, despite the names of Sunil Jakhar and Sidhu circulating. Amarinder Singh, 79, one of the Congress’ most prominent regional satraps, filed his papers after consulting with party president Sonia Gandhi with leaked information. After meeting with party president Sonia Gandhi with stolen information, Amarinder Singh, 79, one of the Congress’ most powerful regional satraps, filed his papers.