New Delhi, Oct 28: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday met Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, days after Captain Amarinder Singh announced formation of a new party ahead of state polls.
Channi, who was in the national capital, met the former Congress president along with Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa.
This was his first meeting with the party high command since former chief minister Amarinder Singh announced he would launch a political party soon, and also claimed he was in touch with some Congress leaders who are likely to switch sides.
According to sources, discussions were held on the upcoming elections, and also on other affairs in the Congress ruled state, which saw political turnaround with the resignation of Amarinder Singh, who quit saying he felt ‘humiliated’.
Days later Congress’ state president Navjot Singh Sidhu also gave his resignation, but he took back almost after a month after discussions with the party leadership.
Rahul Gandhi had earlier also met Punjab Congress leaders including Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, Balbir Singh Sidhu, Sundar Shyam Arora and Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, who are said to be close to Singh.
Among the five states that go to polls early next year, Punjab is the only state ruled by Congress, while the other four – Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa and Manipur are ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Facing stiff competition from the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab, Congress is concerned about the fallout with Singh affecting its electoral prospects.
Rahul Gandhi meets Channi days after Captain declares forming a new party
