"Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and State Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu have assured me that whoever will lead (be the chief ministerial face) in Punjab, the other person will support him," Congress leader Rahul Gandhi stated while addressing a virtual rally from Mithapur, Jalandhar.
Gandhi, further, said:
"Normally, we do not declare a Chief Minister face but if Congress workers want, we will select a face as well. But we will consult Congress workers. They will decide the Chief Ministerial candidate."
He added, "Come what may, we will never let anything disturb the peace in the state. We know how to take everyone along. I have learnt a lot from you all and from Manmohan Singh."
The leader's remarks come amidst speculations of infighting in the Punjab Congress, with both Sidhu and Channi rallying for the chief ministerial nomination.
Accompanying the chief on the stage, Punjab CM echoed Gandhi's confidence and stated, "There is no fight between us. Announce chief minister face for Punjab polls, we (Punjab Congress) will stand united."
On 15 January, the Congress party had released its list of candidates for 86 seats in the upcoming Punjab Assembly polls, declaring that Channi will contest from Chamkaur Sahib (SC) seat and Sidhu will contest from Amritsar East.
The legislative assembly elections in Punjab are slated to take place on 20 February. In the 2017 Assembly polls, the Congress had won a clear majority in the state Assembly by winning 77 seats.
On Thursday, 27 January, Rahul Gandhi paid obeisance at the Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar and partook in an langar along with the Congress party's candidates for the upcoming election.
He tweeted on Thursday, "Prayed with Congress candidates for the future of Punjab at Harmandir Sahib. We ate the prasad of langar while sitting together."
(With inputs from NDTV.)
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