Punjab’s former chief minister slammed Congress’ decision to pick Charanjit Singh Channi as the chief ministerial candidate in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections and dubbed him a “liability” for the party. However, later he said his intention was not to accuse anyone of anything
In a tweet Jakhar hit out at party leaders who described Channi as an “asset” while reviewing the poor show at the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in New Delhi on Sunday.
“An asset – r u joking ? Thank God he [Channi] wasn’t declared a ‘National Treasure’ at CWC by the ‘Pbi’ lady who proposed him as CM in first place,” Jakhar tweeted while taking a dig at Rajya Sabha MP Ambika Soni for “proposing” Channi’s name as the CM after Captain Amarinder Singh tendered his resignation.
He also dubbed Channi as a “liability” to the party and blamed his own greed for the downfall of the party in the Punjab Assembly elections. “May be an asset for her but for the party he has been only a liability. Not the top brass,but his own greed pulled him and the party down,” he said.
He also tweeted a picture of Channi with a headline reading: “ED seizes Rs 10 crore from Channi’s nephew; CM cries foul.”
Later, Jakhar clarified that his tweet was “not to accuse anyone of anything”.
“Disappointing to see the kind of sycophancy played out in CWC yesterday. Report suggests certain leaders who’ve been Rajya Sabha MPs for 30 years, claim to be Punjab’s voice in CWC are hoodwinking party high command,” he said.
He further said that “this recommendation for CM’s post was done by these very people. Instead of acknowledging it, there are trying to put it on Rahul Gandhi. People of Punjab wanted change, but the person who was projected was caught with his hand in the til. The remedy was worse than the disease.”
Jakhar also said that Congress workers want someone whom they can believe in. “A Punjabi leader sitting in CWC is trying to project him as a national treasure. He may be a treasure for her but not for Congress. The next 5 years will be challenging for Punjab and party,” he added.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had declared Channi as the party’s chief ministerial candidate for the 2022 Punjab Assembly election during his visit to Ludhiana on February 6. On the same day, Jakhar quit active electoral politics.
