Decision on Punjab CM only after elections, says Harish Chaudhary

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, November 19

Stressing the Congress will fight the upcoming state Assembly elections under the collective leadership, Punjab Congress affairs incharge Harish Chaudhary today remained non-committal on making Charanjit Singh Channi Chief Minister again if the party comes back to power.

On his maiden visit to the district to know the pulse of the local Congress leaders, he said: “Leaders who are performing well will be given extension if the Congress forms the government after elections. Ticket will be given purely on merit.”

Credits Jal MLAs for change at helm

• In Jalandhar, Punjab Congress affairs incharge Harish Chaudhary said Jalandhar MLAs, including Pargat Singh and Bawa Henry, waged a war to bring in a change in power
• “We ended the term of those who had been passing orders from the palace and stood with those against whom the Congress had been fighting,” he added

When asked if Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi will be given an extension, Chaudhary deflected the question by saying the CM was doing good work and the party would fight elections under the collective leadership. “After Beant Singh, it is Channi who is a common man and running the state in an exemplary manner,” he said.

Will be people’s choice

The collective leadership is in focus for the upcoming elections. The CM face will be from the popular choice of the people who will be selected after the elections. —Harish Chaudhary, Punjab congress affairs incharge

In no mood to reveal the party’s cards on the chief ministerial face, he said, “The collective leadership is what will remain in focus for the upcoming elections. The CM face will be from the popular choice of the people which will be selected only after the elections.”

On Captain Amarinder Singh, he said: “It was two years back that decision to change the leadership in Punjab was taken but it was delayed due to Covid outbreak. Nobody from the party ever criticised Capt Amarinder Singh as there is something known as party discipline,” he said.

When asked about PCC president Navjot Singh Sidhu always raising party issues on social media platforms, the party affairs incharge was unable to give any satisfactory reply.