Ex-Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar quits party, says ‘good luck and goodbye’

Former Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar on Saturday announced his decision to quit the party. In April, Congress disciplinary committee had issued a show-cause notice to Jakhar for speaking about former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi. Jakhar’s comments offended the Dalit leaders in the party with Udit Raj even demanding his expulsion from the party.

TN National Desk

Updated May 14, 2022, 13:21 IST

Sunil Jakhar

Photo : ANI

New Delhi: In a surprise move, former Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar on Saturday announced his decision to quit the party.

Jakhar, a prominent Hindu face, made the announcement on his Facebook page.

“Good luck and goodbye Congress,” he said.

In April, Congress disciplinary committee issued a show-cause notice to Jakhar for speaking about former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi.

Jakhar’s comments offended the Dalit leaders in the party with Udit Raj even demanding his expulsion from the party.

“Mr Sunil Jhakhar, Punjab Congress leader, must be expelled from the Party for his casteist and feudal comment that Mr Channi, being lowest caste, couldn’t have been made CM. His place is in feet instead of on head,” Raj had said.

Comments made by Jakhar after Captain Amarinder Singh tendered his resignation also led to speculations that he was unhappy with the Congress high command.

Embarrassing the grand old party before the announcement of its chief minister’s face for Punjab Assembly polls, Jakhar said that Navjot Sidhu and Charanjit Channi were least favoured as the Chief Minister’s probable after Captain’s exit.

He also said that he was the first choice with 42 of the 79 legislators favoured his name.

In a video, Jakhar was heard saying the Congress high command had asked all 79 of the party’s Punjab MLAs to give their preference for the chief ministerial post after Captain Amarinder Singh resigned.

“Sunil Jakhar was favoured by 42 MLAs, Sukhjinder Randhawa got 16 votes and Preneet Kaur got the support of 12 MLAs. Navjot Sidhu and Charanjit Singh Channi were liked by six and two MLAs, respectively,” the former Punjab Congress chief said.

Jakhar said that despite being denied the top post, he is very happy that most of the MLAs trusted him.

I do not hold any post but even then the MLAs were in my favour, he added.

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