The Indian National Congress’s decision to pick Charanjit Singh Channi as Punjab Chief Minister over widely-speculated frontrunners such as Navjot Singh Sindhu, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa has come as a surprise to many. Randhawa, who had been at the forefront of the Sidhu-led Congress faction’s efforts to oust Captain Amarinder Singh, said he welcomed the Congress high command’s decision on replacing Captain Amarinder with Channi. He said Channi was like his younger brother and he was not disappointed at his elevation to the CM’s post, according to news agency ANI.

Channi was unanimously elected as the Leader of the Congress Legislature Party of Punjab, AICC general secretary Harish Rawat said in a tweet.

Captain Amarinder Singh resigned as the chief minister of Punjab 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.

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Randhawa served as Minister of Jail and Department Of Cooperation in the outgoing Cabinet. He has been elected to the Punjab Legislative Assembly thrice in in 2002, 2012, and 2017 from Fatehgarh Churian and Dera Baba Nanak constituencies.

The 53-year-old was a favourite to be the next Chief Minister of Punjab after multiple media reports said observers appointed by the All India Congress Committee (AICC) had finalised Randhawa’s name for the chief minister’s post. Randhawa comes from a Congress family and has been among the most vocal critics of Captain Amarinder Singh. 

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Charanjit Singh Channi, the outgoing Technical Education Minister, represents the Chamkaur Sahib Assembly Constituency. He was the leader of opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha from 2015 to 2016.

In 2018, Channi was accused by a woman IAS officer of sending “inappropriate” text messages to her.

Channi has courted controversies with his alleged role in illegal mining, and following the advice of astrologers to have an east facing entry to his house for political gains after his induction into the state cabinet.