Punjab Congress Crisis Highlights: Charanjit Singh Channi has been named as new Chief Minister of Punjab
Charanjit Singh Channi has been named as the new Chief Minister of Punjab. The outgoing Technical Education Minister is set to take over as next Chief Minister following Captain Amarinder Singh's resignation.
"It gives me immense pleasure to announce that Sh. Charanjit Singh Channi has been unanimously elected as the Leader of the Congress Legislature Party of Punjab," tweeted Congress in charge of Punjab Harish Rawat.
Mr Channi will succeed Captain Amarinder Singh, who resigned as the chief minister of Punjab on Saturday following months of infighting between him and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Navjot Singh Sidhu
The Congress is likely to name two deputies in addition to a replacement. Sources, however, said the identities of the deputies will depend on who gets the nod for the top post.
Earlier today, senior Congress leader Ambika Soni was asked to succeed Amarinder Singh as Punjab chief minister during a late-night meeting with Rahul Gandhi, but the Rajya Sabha MP turned down the offer, sources said. Ms Soni made it clear at the meeting that not having a Sikh as the Chief Minister has "ramifications", the sources said, asking not to be named.
Amarinder Singh quit on Saturday following an escalation in the political crisis in the state, which stems from his tussle with Navjot Sidhu. Later, speaking to NDTV, he said he had been "humiliated thrice" and that the Congress is free to "appoint whoever they trust". He also said he would "exercise his options when the time comes".
Here are the LIVE updates on the Punjab Congress Crisis:
Congress's SS Randhawa to be one of two Punjab Deputy Chief Ministers: Sources
Navjot Sidhu with Charanjit Singh Channi 
Amarinder Singh congratulates successor Charanjit Singh Channi
Outgoing Chief Minister of Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh congratulated Charanjit Singh Channi after Congress elected the latter as the new Legislative party leader on Sunday.
Charanjit Singh Channi to take oath as Punjab Chief Minister tomorrow
Congress MLA Charanjit Singh Channi will take the oath as the new Chief Minister of Punjab on Monday at 11 am on Monday.
Addressing media after meeting Governor Banwarilal Purohit, the Chief Minister-designate of Punjab said, "We have presented our stance, unanimously supported by party MLAs, before the Governor. Oath taking ceremony will take place at 11 am tomorrow."
Rahul Gandhi congratulates Charanjit Singh Channi on being picked as Punjab Chief Minister
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi congratulated Charanjit Singh Channi on Sunday after he was picked as the next Punjab chief minister, and said the party must continue to fulfil the promises made to the people of the state.
Mr Channi, who was elected the Congress Legislature Party leader on Sunday and will take oath as Chief Minister on Monday, succeeds Amarinder Singh who resigned on Saturday alleging humiliation by the party.
"Congratulations to Shri Charanjit Singh Channi Ji for the new responsibility. We must continue to fulfil the promises made to the people of Punjab. Their trust is of paramount importance," Mr Gandhi tweeted.
Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu arrives at Raj Bhavan, Chandigarh
Navjot Sidhu reaches Chandigarh hotel to meet Congress leaders amid back-and-forth on Punjab Chief Minister decision
No name finalised yet for Punjab CM post, says Sukhjinder Randhawa
Punjab Cabinet Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, whose name is being proposed by some Congress MLAs at the next Chief Minister of Punjab, said that the Congress High Command is yet to finalise a name for the top post in the state.
"Till now no name has been selected. The party observers have talked to all the MLA and asked for names. Now a consensus will be made and the name will be announced. Till it is announced, I will not react to anything," Mr Randhawa told reporters.
Amarinder Singh's resignation "internal matter" of Congress, says Shiv Sena's Sanjay Raut
Shiv Sena, which is running a coalition government with Congress in Maharashtra, on Sunday said that Captain Amarinder Singh's resignation from the chief ministerial post in Punjab is the internal matter of Congress.
"Just as Rupani resigned in Gujarat and it was an internal issue of the BJP, the issue of Punjab is an internal issue of the Congress", Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut said. "I have no idea if anyone has been insulted," he added.
Opinion: Amarinder Singh's Exit Proves 7 New Congress QualitiesChief Ministers always come and go. But the real importance of the resignation of Captain Amarinder Singh lies less in what it means for Punjab politics, and more in what it tells us about the Congress party of today. With each passing day, it become".
Navjot Sidhu Advisor Responds To Amarinder Singh's "Traitor" Barb
"Navjot Sidhu is not a traitor. If after now Captain Amarinder Singh calls Sidhu a traitor, then I will open the whole book. Captain's target is not Sidhu but the Gandhi family. I'll not allow Captain to target Gandhi family": Md Mustafa, advisor to Punjab Congress Chief Navjot Singh Sidhu
Serious Allegation By Amarinder Singh Against Navjot Sidhu: BJP Leader
"Former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has called his party's state chief Navjot Singh Sindhu anti-national. This is a very serious allegation. BJP is asking only one question to Congress why are Sonia, Rahul and Priyanka silent on this?" BJP leader Prakash Javadekar.
Congress May Name 2 Deputies In Addition To Amarinder Singh Replacement
The Congress is likely to name two deputies in addition to a replacement. Sources, however, said the identities of the deputies will depend on who gets the nod for the top post. Sources close to Punjab Congress chief Navjot Sidhu - whose hostile spat with Amarinder Singh precipitated this crisis - were quoted as saying 'whatever name is agreed for Chief Minister, it will be accompanied by two deputies... deputies will depend on who is named Chief Minister'. (Read full story
here)
"Anguished at events of 5 months": Amarinder Singh wrote to Sonia GandhiAmarinder Singh declared himself "anguished at (the) political events of (the) last five months" in a letter to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi yesterday, hours before he quit as Chief Minister of Punjab.
In the letter, Mr Singh - whose resignation was precipitated by a series of bitter attacks from rival Navjot Sidhu - indicated the party's understanding of recent political developments in the state were "not based on full understanding of the national imperatives of Punjab and its key concerns".
Sources have indicated that there is a possibility of appointing two Deputy Chief Ministers along with the Chief Minister.
Congress Legislative Party, earlier on Saturday, unanimously passed a resolution to give Congress chief Sonia Gandhi power to nominate the new Chief Minister of Punjab after Captain Amarinder Singh stepped down.
"Hope Amarinder Singh won't take any step that will harm Congress": Ashok Gehlot
Reaction on the Punjab crisis, Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot said, "Captain Saheb is a respected leader of the party and I hope that he will continue to work keeping the interests of the party ahead."
Amarinder Singh has been involved in a long-running feud with his in-house rival Navjot Singh Sindhu, whom he called "incompetent" as he stepped down from his post.
The name of former Punjab Congress chief Sunil Jakhar, current state state unit president Navjot Singh Sidhu, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa are doing the rounds.
Punjab Congress crisis live: Minister Sukhjinder Randhawa emerges as frontrunner
The Congress has postponed a meeting of its MLAs after senior leader Ambika Soni refused the chief minister post. Sukhjinder Randhawa, who is a cabinet minister in the Punjab government, has emerged as one of the frontrunner, sources say.
Congress's political observers fare meeting MLA one-on-one: Sources
The Congress's three political observers for Punjab are meeting with every MLA to get their views on the matter. They are holding a one-on-one meeting with the legislators, and will report back to the party high command for a decision on who would be the next Chief Minister.
Ambika Soni, who declined the chief minister post, has made it clear that not having a Sikh as the Chief Minister has "ramifications", the sources said, asking not to be named.
Punjab Congress MLA meet has been postponed to 1 pm. Sources say decision on new chief minister likely today.
Punjab Congress crisis: Ambika Soni refuses Punjab chief minister post, say sources
Congress leader Ambika Soni has turned down an offer to become Punjab's next Chief Minister a day after Captain Amarinder Singh resigned, sources have said. Ms Soni declined the offer at a late-night meeting with her party colleague Rahul Gandhi, sources said.
Ms Soni made it clear at the meeting that not having a Sikh as the Chief Minister has "ramifications", the sources said, asking not to be named.
Amarinder Singh says he was "humiliated thrice", keeps options open
In his parting shot, Amarinder Singh, 79, said he had been "humiliated thrice" and that the Congress is free to "appoint whoever they trust". Read full story
here
Amarinder Singh quit on Saturday following an escalation in the political crisis in the state, which stems from his tussle with Navjot Sidhu.
For all the news on yesterday's developments, click
here