Punjab Congress infighting on as Sunil Jakhar turns rebel after Charanjit Singh Channi becomes CM

Hours before Channi took oath as the Chief Minister, Jakhar Monday slammed state Congress in-charge Harish Rawat for saying the 2022 assembly elections will be fought under present state president Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Slamming Rawat, Jakhar tweeted, "On the swearing-in day of Sh @Charnjit_channi as Chief Minister, Mr Rawats’s statement that 'elections will be fought under Sidhu', is baffling. It’s likely to undermine CM’s authority but also negate the very ‘raison d’être’ of his selection for this position."

Hours after Channi took oath as the Chief Minister, Jakhar posted another tweet alleging that the state unit is playing the caste politics, in a statement which also resonated in the words of the Congress' arch-rival Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

"Sagacious words of Jathedar of Shri Akal Takht Sahib couldn’t have come at a better time when petty minded small people occupying high positions are trying to divide Punjab on basis of race/caste/identities-forgetting eternal message of Guru "ਮਾਨਸ ਕੀ ਜਾਤ ਸਬੈ ਏਕੈ ਪਹਿਚਾਨਬੋ," says Jakhar in a tweet.

However, Channi had earlier lauded Congress' de facto number two Rahul Gandhi for taking a "bold" decision of replacing then Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh with someone else.

He tweeted on Sept 18, "Kudos to Sh @RahulGandhi for adopting Alexandrian solution to this punjabi version of Gordian knot. Surprisingly, this bold leadership decision to resolve Punjab Congress imbroglio has not only enthralled congress workers but has sent shudders down the spines of Akalis."

Important to note, Jakhar's name had popped up in the media as the frontrunner to succeed Captain last week.

Meanwhile, Channi, who is the first Dalit Chief Minister in the northern state, sent out a strong message in post-oath press conference, implying the party is supreme.