Punjab Election 2022: CM's Face To Decide Whether 60 Contestants Turn Into MLAs, Says Sidhu

Sidhu further emphasised that a person with a plan for Punjab and the trust of the people can only assure the election of 60 parliamentarians.

Punjab Congress Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu. (Source: Getty Images)

New Delhi: A chief ministerial face would determine whether or not 60 persons are elected as MLAs, Punjab Congress head Navjot Singh Sidhu said on Saturday, alluding to the number 60, which is one more than the 59 lawmakers required to form a government in Punjab's 117-member parliament.

Sidhu made the comment without identifying any party, ahead of the announcement of the Congress's chief ministerial candidate by the party's former president Rahul Gandhi during his visit to Ludhiana for the February 20 Punjab assembly elections, PTI reported.

Sidhu further emphasised that a person with a plan for Punjab and the trust of the people can only assure the election of 60 parliamentarians.

Notably, in Punjab, a party requires 59 seats out of a total of 117 assembly divisions to form the government.

For several weeks, both Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and state Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu have made a case for themselves to be designated the party's choice for the top office, either directly or indirectly.

Sidhu, who is running for the Amritsar East seat, told the reporters in Amritsar on Saturday that he was never a worshipper of power.

Today, though, Punjab must make a major decision. If there are 60 MLAs, a person will be elected as CM. Nobody is mentioning 60 MLAs. Nobody talks about the blueprint on which the government will be formed, he says.

Sidhu argued once more for his Punjab Model to get the state back on its feet.

It is not Sidhu's model, but the model of the state, and if somebody has a better model, he will accept it as well.

He stated that the person with a plan and the faith of the people will be able to appoint sixty MLAs. The fact is that the face will determine whether or not 60 (contestants) become MLAs.

'I Came Into Congress Because I Have Concern For Punjab': Sidhu

In response to his joining the Congress after quitting the BJP ahead of the 2017 elections, Sidhu stated that he did not leave the party to join another for any position and that he had really given up his Rajya Sabha membership.

"I came (into Congress) because I have concern for Punjab," he was quoted by PTI in its report.

Sidhu stated that he has always fought against those who have plundered Punjab.

"My fight is against those who are dishonest. When someone at the top is honest, the honesty percolates right down below, " he said.

"I have not waged any personal battle with anyone till today. I have always fought for Punjab," he added.

Sidhu went on to say that he never strayed from topics of politics, policy, and financial allocation.

"Has Sidhu opened his shop for business, quarry or liquor?" he asked.

He claimed to be the sole one whose wages had dropped dramatically, a clear allusion to what he used to make from conducting TV shows and cricket commentary.

I would be the only one whose income has been reduced by crores of rupees. But I have the satisfaction that my earnings were insignificant, he stated, adding that people remember those who can influence society for the better.

My Punjab approach is intended to improve the lives of children, youths, and residents of the state, he stated.

He went on to say that this methodology will catch those who are robbing the state.

Punjab Legislative Assembly 2022 Updated Schedule

• Date of Notification: January 25, 2022 (Tuesday)
• Last date of Nomination: February 1, 2022 (Tuesday)
• Date of Scrutiny: February 2, 2022 (Wednesday)
• Date of Withdrawal: February 4, 2022 (Friday)
• Date of Poll: February 20, 2022 (Sunday).
• Counting of Votes: March 10, 2022 (Thursday).

(With PTI Inputs)