Congress MLAs propose Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa as next Punjab CM: Reports

Congress MLAs have proposed Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa’s name for next Punjab CM, ANI reported, quoting sources. A meeting is currently going on at Rahul Gandhi’s Delhi residence and the official announcement is expected to be made soon. 

“All MLAs have named Sukhjinder Randhawa for CM before Congress high command, he will become the CM,” Congress MLA Pritam Kotbhai told ANI. 

This comes a day after Captain Amarinder Singh resigned as the chief minister of the state after a power struggle with state party chief Navjot Singh Sidhu. He met Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit at Raj Bhavan in Chandigarh on Saturday and submitted his and his council of ministers’ resignation. 

Also Read: Hope Amarinder Singh continues to work in Congress’ interest: Ashok Gehlot

Following the resignation, Amarinder Singh expressed his unhappiness with the party leadership’s decision.

“I feel humiliated by the way talks transpired,” he told the reporters, adding that he had been summoned by the central leadership thrice in the last two months.

“I spoke with the Congress president this morning, told them that I will be resigning today… This is the third time in recent months in meeting MLAs… which is why I decided to quit,” he said.

“…Did they have an element of doubt that I couldn’t run the govt…I feel humiliated…Whoever they have faith in, can make them (CM), he added.

Also Read: Ambika Soni turns down Congress’ Punjab CM offer

On Sunday, Randhawa, who is the Jails and Cooperation Minister in the outgoing cabinet, spoke about Amarinder Singh saying he felt humiliated.

“So far, the BJP has changed five chief ministers. And in the Congress too, some chief ministers have been changed. In Congress, Amarinder Singh has the maximum tenure of nine-and-half years as chief minister. The honour he got, I think no other chief minister got so much,” he said, PTI reported. 

When asked about what caused differences with Amarinder Singh, he said, “When we felt that promises which were made and elections were near and the Congress high-command and we too felt worried”.