New Delhi: Taking a jibe at the Congress, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday extended its congratulations to the grand old party for picking a “reta chor” Charanjit Singh Channi as the party’s chief ministerial pick for the Punjab Assembly elections


“Congratulations Congress for announcing a Reta Chor as your Punjab CM face!” the AAP wrote on the micro-blogging platform.



AAP Punjab co-incharge Raghav Chadha too taunted the Congress for announcing incumbent Channi as its chief ministerial candidate.


“It is indeed sad that out of 3 crore Punjabis - Congress chose a person who is accused of illegal sand mining and transfer posting scam as their CM candidate,” tweeted Chadha.



Earlier, Union Jal Shakti Minister and Punjab BJP in-charge Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also took potshots at the Congress asking how can a party that is slave to a family claim to “democratically” elect a leader.


“After brandishing a 4 page resignation in 2019 what authority does Rahul Gandhi still have to pick the #Congress CM Face for #Punjab. How can a party that is slave to a family claim to "democratically" elect a leader?” he tweeted.



Earlier in the day, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi announced as the party’s CM face for the Punjab Assembly polls in Punjab.


Gandhi, who made this announcement while addressing a rally at Ludhiana, asserted that the party has no dearth of capable leaders.


The former Congress president said Punjab is in the blood of Channi and Navjot Singh Sidhu – the party’s state chief.


“Punjab CM will come from a poor family, Channi will be CM face for the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections,” he announced.


Channi on his part thanked the party leadership and people of the state for showing faith in him.


“I sincerely thank the Congress High Command and people of Punjab for bestowing their trust in me. As you have seen us work so hard in the last 111 days to take Punjab forward, I assure you to take Punjab and Punjabis on the path of progress with new zeal and dedication,” he tweeted.



Voting for the Punjab Assembly will be held in a single phase on February 14. The results will be declared on March 10.