Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu has upped the ante in the fight for the nomination of presumptive Chief Minister following the arrest of Chief Minister Charanjit Singh’s nephew in connection with the sand mining scam on Friday.

In an oblique reference to Channi, Sidhu told a TV Channel, " Punjab needs a leader who has an agenda and a road map to eradicate the menace of mafia operating in the state. A person who is himself linked to the sand mafia cannot be expected to deliver a clean government.

"If you choose someone devoid of moral authority, devoid of ethics or someone who is dishonest and part of some corruption and mafia then people will vote for change," he added.

Sidhu's statement comes just ahead of the scheduled programme of former AICC president Rahul Gandhi who will be naming the CM candidate on Sunday after consulting party workers and the people of Punjab. As per sources Rahul is likely to announce Channi as the Chief Ministerial candidate since he is far ahead of Sidhu in the survey.

Sidhu further said that if an honest man with character is projected as the CM face of the party, people will vote for him and also for the 60 MLAs needed to form the government. What use is the CM face if the party loses, he asked.

He alleged the entire mafia and political parties including his detractors within the Congress had ganged up against him to defeat him. But money alone cannot win an election, he added.

In a direct attack on the party's high command, Sidhu said that the top leadership wanted a weak CM who would dance to their diktats. "People need to decide who is honest and who has a vision for the development of the state and its people, otherwise Punjab is doomed," he added.

The Congress party’s incharge for Punjab, Harish Chaudhry, told newsmen on Friday that Rahul will visit Ludhiana on Sunday and address a virtual rally to announce the Chief Ministerial candidate.

Several party leaders including former PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar have favoured Channi as the CM’s face of the party. "He has been given just three months after the exit of Captain Amarinder Singh and now the high command should allow him a full term," Jakhar said in support of Channi.

Also read:  In big jolt to Congress, Punjab Governor orders probe into sand mining scam involving party bigwigs