Punjab Da CM: Once Laughter Buddies, Sidhu, Bhagwanth To File Nominations As Foes

CHANDIGARH:  On Saturday, the Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu filed his nomination from the Amritsar East constituency ahead of the assembly polls in the state. The firebrand leader has been in news due to his ongoing tussle with the Chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi.

It is no secret that Sidhu wants to be CM candidate of the Congress and a couple of days ago he had publicly urged the Congress high command to declare the CM face before the state goes to poll. This prompted the Congress scion Rahul Gandhi to announce that the party will soon declare a CM candidate after feedback from the Congress workers in the state.

Meanwhile Aam Aadmi Party’s CM candidate in Punjab, Bhagwant Mann, is set to file his nomination from the Dhuri constituency today. Mann was declared as the AAP’s chief ministerial candidate on January 18.  48-old Mann, a comedian-turned-politician, is a two-time Lok Sabha MP from Sangrur.

Dhuri assembly seat is a part of the Sangrur parliamentary constituency and the Congressman Dalvir Singh Goldy is the current MLA from the seat.

AAP’s decision to appoint Mann as CM candidate raised many eyebrows because of Mann’s much-publicised drinking problem. He has been seen in an inebriated state at many public events as well. However, the Sangrur MP insists that he has overcome his drinking problem and rival parties are raising this to divert attention from the more pressing issues.

According to surveys, Punjab is headed for a hung assembly, with AAP emerging as the single-largest party.

Punjab will vote on February 20 in a single phase. The results will be decalred on March 10.