Ludhiana, February 6: Soon after Congress announced the selection of Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi as the chief ministerial face of the party for the ensuing Punjab Assembly polls, senior Congress leader Sunil Jakhar announced that he will not contest elections anymore.
“I will not contest election…I am out of electoral politics…I have had a good inning, God has been grateful to me. I will work with Congress, will do whatever duty party assigns to me but I am out of electoral politics,” he said.
Welcoming Rahul Gandhi’s announcement to appoint Channi as the party’s face for the assembly polls, Jakhar said: “Giving a chance to someone coming from a poor family is I believe one of the best decisions of Rahul Gandhi’s political career.”
“It’s a good decision… Congress party is united. There may be some differences in ideologies, but that is natural,” he added.
Former Punjab Congress chief Jakhar, who made way for PCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu last year to lead the party, had recently claimed that 42 of 79 party MLAs wanted him to take over as the Punjab Chief Minister after Captain Amarinder Singh stepped down from the post, while only two legislators favoured Channi.
However, later clarifying his remarks, he backed Channi for CM stating that he should be given time so that he continues working.
Punjab will go to the polls on February 20 and the counting of votes will take place on March 10.
