Congress has elected Charanjit Singh Channi as new CLP leader, who will now be next chief minister of Punjab.
News of the appointment of Mr Channi – a member of the Dalit community – announced by Harish Rawat in the poll-bound state that was triggered by the resignation of Amarinder Singh yesterday.
This comes hours after rumours said Sukhjinder Randhawa had been elected Congress Legislature Party leader.
Channi, who would assume the charge of chief minister barely four months before the polls, would be the first Dalit CM of Punjab.
A member of the Ramdasia Sikh community, the 58-year-old has thrice been elected from the Chamkaur Sahib assembly constituency. He had also served as the leader of opposition in the Punjab assembly from 2015 to 2016.