Charanjit Channi Presumptive Chief Minister? Video Triggers Speculation

A 36-second video clip featuring actor-philanthropist Sonu Sood has people wondering if Congress has made up its mind on the Punjab Chief Minister.

A video shared by the Congress party on its Twitter handle has triggered speculation as to who will be the Chief Ministerial face of the party in the upcoming Punjab assembly elections. In what is being seen as a snub to state Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, who has aggressively tried to position himself as the CM face, the grand old party has posted a 36-second video clip with actor-philanthropist Sonu Sood saying that "the real CM" would be one who is forced to sit in the chair and does not have to aggressively advertise their own capability. बोल रहा पंजाब, अब पंजे के साथ- मजबूत करेंगे हर हाथ। pic.twitter.com/qQOZpnKItd

In the video, Mr Sood is seen saying "a person who is forced into the job is the real CM, he shouldn't have to project himself as the candidate. Like a backbencher being chosen and told that you deserve this, that person can change the country," he said, followed by a montage of Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi's visuals with dramatic background music pitching him as the man for the CM's job. 

Mr Channi is a member of the Scheduled Caste community which comprises 32 per cent of the state's population. He is a three-time MLA from the Chamkaur Sahib Assembly Constituency of Punjab. He won assembly elections in 2007, 2012, and 2017. Notably, Mr Channi had also served as the leader of opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha from 2015 to 2016.