"Cong. Will Announce Its Punjab CM's Face On Sunday": Source

Cong. leader Rahul will visit Ludhiana, will name the CM's face

Punjab: Ahead of the upcoming Assembly election polls in the state, Congress is set to announce its Chief Ministerial face on Sunday, said a source. According to the source, Party leader Rahul Gandhi will visit Ludhiana on Sunday when he is likely to name who will become the Chief Minister of Punjab if Congress retains power in the border state.

Cong. party has been seeking public opinion via phone calls on who should be the chief ministerial candidate, similar to what Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party had done in Punjab before it announced Bhagwant Mann.

Recently, AAP declared its chief ministerial face Bhagwant Mann as he received the highest votes of 93% through the survey of "Janta Chunega Apna CM" initiated by the Aam Aadmi Party.

There's a strong buzz that Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi is the party's favourite for the top job. Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu is also in the picture.

The call from Congress plays a recorded message in Punjabi prompting listeners to press a key to vote among three options. Mr. Channi's name has been placed at number one, followed by Mr. Sidhu's. The third option asks whether Congress should go without a chief minister face.

As the election polls are on the verge to start, all eyes are on Congress's pick for the top job. Mr. Sidhu had earlier publicly said the party should declare the candidate.

Mr. Channi has been nominated from two assembly constituencies leading to speculations around him being favoured by the party and allowing him a backup chance if he loses in one of the seats. Mr. Sidhu has repeatedly tried to project himself as the candidate.

Punjab will vote on February 20. Counting is on March 10.