Punjab Minister Sukhjinder Randhawa Likely To Be Chief Minister: Sources

1. A 3-time MLA from the Dera Baba Nanak seat, Sukhjinder Randhawa, 62, is expected to named Chief Minister and given two deputies. The outgoing Jails and Co-operation Minister, sources have instructed information company ANI Mr Randhawa has sought a gathering with Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit right now.

2. “Captain (Amarinder Singh) saab is our senior… have at all times handled him like my father (and) he has handled me like his son… brother. There have been variations however he has by no means reacted negatively towards me…” Mr Randhawa was quoted by ANI earlier, including that the ultimate choice can be taken by the celebration’s excessive command.

3. Earlier right now a assembly of the Congress Legislature Occasion was postponed after Rajya Sabha MP Ambika Soni – believed to be the celebration’s first selection – declined the provide. Ms Soni said “no” at a late-night meeting with Rahul Gandhi; she careworn on the “ramifications” of a non-Sikh Chief Minister, significantly with an election due.

4. If it is held today, the CLP meeting will be the second in two days. Conscious of its precarious place (and of the BJP, AAP and Akalis ready to pounce), the Congress has labored swiftly however cautiously this weekend, and is eager to make sure the brand new Chief Minister has most inner help. Sources had mentioned the CLP can be known as solely in spite of everything celebration MLAs are consulted.

5. Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot – who earlier this yr narrowly survived instability in his authorities – has requested Mr Singh to “keep the interest of the party above all else.” In a prolonged assertion issued this morning, Mr Gehlot known as on his colleague to “to rise above ourselves and assume within the curiosity of the celebration and the nation”.

6. Months of sniping and hostility between Amarinder Singh and Navjot Sidhu got here to a head late Friday after a sudden assembly of Congress MLAs. Sources instructed NDTV round 50 of the celebration’s 80 MLAs wrote to Sonia Gandhi and requested for Mr Singh to get replaced.

7. A livid Mr Singh then spoke to Mrs Gandhi and instructed her he had had sufficient. “I was humiliated three times by Congress leadership…” he mentioned. He wrote to Mrs Gandhi declaring himself “anguished” and to defend his administration’s track record.

8. The Captain additionally instructed NDTV that although he had resigned, “… for the sake of my country, I’ll oppose his (Navjot Sidhu) name for Chief Minister. It is a matter of nationwide safety… is an incompetent man… a complete catastrophe…” Of additional fear for the Congress, maybe, was Mr Singh’s response to staying with the celebration; “I can not reply proper now.”

9. The Singh-Sidhu feud dates to the 2017 election; Mr Sidhu had hoped to be Deputy Chief Minister however was reportedly denied by Mr Singh. He was as a substitute made a minister however stop two years later. After a sulk he re-emerged, concentrating on Mr Singh and changing into a hard-to-ignore drawback, forcing the celebration right into a mediation try that soured after Mr Singh voiced disapproval at Mr Sidhu being made Punjab Congress chief.

10. The rift escalated sharply in recent weeks and a tenuous truce unravelled after statements by Mr Sidhu’s advisers. Final month, 4 ministers and round 24 MLAs raised contemporary complaints towards Mr Singh, setting the stage for the weekend’s drama.

With enter from ANI