After much speculation following the resignation of Amarinder Singh, a Congress MLA claimed on Sunday Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa would become the new chief minister of Punjab.
Pritam Kotbhai, MLA for Bucho Mandi, was quoted by The Times of India as saying, "All MLAs have named Sukhjinder Randhawa for CM before Congress high command; he will become the CM."
Earlier on Sunday, there was speculation that former state Congress chief Sunil Jakhar was a 'front-runner' for the post even as former Union minister Ambika Soni claimed she had declined to become chief minister. Soni argued a Sikh should be chief minister of Punjab.
Congress leaders Ajay Maken, Harish Rawat and Harish Choudhary met the party MLAs to ascertain extent of support the candidates had.
Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa had served as minister for the jails and cooperation portfolios in the outgoing Amarinder cabinet. Randhawa (62) is a native of Gurdaspur in the Majha region. He won three Assembly polls (2002, 2007 and 2017). His father, Santokh Singh, was twice Congress state unit chief.
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Randhawa had been a bitter critic of the Badal family that runs the Akali Dal. He had sought action over the police firing triggered by the protests against the sacrilege case of 2015. Randhawa had become an ally of Navjot Singh Sidhu in his feud with Amarinder Singh.
Interestingly, Randhawa would be only the second chief minister of Punjab from the Majha region after Partap Singh Khairon.
