Punjab votes on February 20 and the outcomes will probably be declared on March 10.
Two days earlier than Rahul Gandhi’s massive reveal on who will probably be Congress’s Chief Minister candidate in Punjab, Navjot Singh Sidhu launched a direct assault right this moment at his rival Charanjit Singh Channi and mentioned the social gathering should select somebody “sincere and with a clear monitor document” – a major alternative of phrases on a day Mr Channi noticed a relative arrested for corruption.
Navjot Sidhu additionally burdened that any Chief Minister alternative ought to have the backing of at the least 60 MLAs.
“In the event you select somebody devoid of ethical authority, devoid of ethics or somebody who’s dishonest and a part of some corruption and mafia, then folks will vote for change and bury you want a mooli,” the Punjab Congress chief instructed NDTV in an unique interview.
“We’d like an sincere candidate. Your future is dependent upon what you select. It’s alternative, not probability that determines your future. A ‘mafia-type individual’ can’t implement your programmes. An individual who himself is mafia protector-in-chief, how can he crack down on the mafia?” Mr Sidhu mentioned.
Mr Sidhu is competing with Chief Minister Channi within the race to be declared the Congress’s presumptive Chief Minister for Punjab.
This morning, information emerged that Mr Channi’s nephew Bhupendra Singh “Honey” had been arrested by the Enforcement Directorate in an unlawful sand-mining case.
Mr Sidhu, making a case for himself, mentioned any Chief Minister alternative would wish to have ethical authority and a 17-year monitor document.
“I can not name myself a CM candidate. However how many individuals do you see which can be celebrities and have gained six elections?” he mentioned.
“Solely folks can select the Chief Minister. The voice of the folks is the voice of God. I can say that I’m not accountable for what others do however Navjot Singh Sidhu chawanni rawadar nahin hai (Navjot Sidhu isn’t any small fry)”.
Requested whether or not he would settle for no matter his social gathering determined, Mr Sidhu mentioned: “There isn’t any query of my accepting or not. It’s whether or not folks will settle for it. Whoever your chief is might want to have the help of 60 MLAs. Everybody cannot turn into Chief Minister. How will you turn into CM with out MLAs?”
The remark comes a day after one other Punjab Congress chief, Sunil Jakhar, was heard saying in a video {that a} majority of MLAs had backed him for the highest publish after the Congress sacked Amarinder Singh in September.
On Mr Jakhar’s list, Mr Sidhu ranked on the backside with the help of solely six MLAs, barely above Mr Channi (two MLAs).
Punjab votes on February 20 and the outcomes will probably be declared on March 10.