Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa is all set to be the next chief minister of Punjab after he reportedly became the choice of most Congress MLAs. According to media reports, a final announcement was expected soon from the party’s central leadership.
According to news agency ANI, Congress MLA Pritam Kotbhai said that all MLAs had named Sukhjinder Randhawa for the new chief minister before Congress high command.
Randhawa was a cabinet minister in the state government headed by Amarinder Singh. Randhawa told reporters that a ‘chief minister remains (in his post) only till the time when his party, people of the state stand by him.’ This was widely being seen as his veiled dig at Amarinder Singh.
62-year-old Randhawa is a three-term MLA and held Jails and Co-Operation ministry in the previous cabinet headed by Singh.
“Captain (Amarinder Singh) saab is our senior… have always treated him like my father (and) he has treated me like his son… brother. There have been differences but he has never reacted negatively against me,” Randhawa was quoted by ANI.
There are reports that the Congress leadership may also appoint two deputies along with the name of the new chief minister.
Captain Amarinder Singh had resigned from his post on Saturday amidst growing rebellion against him within the party.