Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi is one of the star campaigners for Uttarakhand, the Congress revealed today in a list that names 30 party leaders including Sonia Gandhi, Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Curiously, Navjot Sidhu is not one of the star campaigners.
Ghulam Nabi Azad, who was targeted last month after he received Padma Bhushan, is also on the list. Sachin Pilot, Bhupesh Baghel, Randeep Surjewala are among other star campaigners for the state - they have been active in campaigns over the last few months as Congress hopes to gain the lost ground in this season of state elections.
In Punjab, the Congress had been witnessing a lot of high drama months before the state elections that peaked in September when Amarinder Singh stepped down and Punjab got its first Dalit Chief Minister - Chandrajit Singh Channi. The Dalit community forms 31 per cent of the state population.
This Sunday, the party named CS Channi from another constituency. He is now fighting from both Bhadaur and Chamkaur Sahib, a seat that he has been winning since 2007.
While the Congress has not named its candidate for the Chief Minister's post, the move was seen as a signal that the 58-year-old leader may have gained an advantage.
Navjot Singh Sidhu is fighting from East Amritsar, a seat that he managed to win easily last time.
Sonia Gandhi has been reportedly holding talks after Rahul Gadhi - flanked by CS Channi and Navjot Sidhu - said last week that workers will decide who will be chosen for the top post.
Amid discussions, Mr Sidhu visited the Vaishno Devi shrine.
The ruling party's key challenger AAP has also named its pick - Bhagwant Singh Mann - after a televote where over 22 lakh people from across the state participated.
Punjab votes on February 20 and Uttarakhand polls will be held on February 14.
Congress is one of the contenders in the hilly state that BJP will try to retain.
The votes for both states will be counted on March 10.
"Stamp Of Approval": Raghav Chadha On AAP's Big Win In Punjab Bypolls Stone-Pelting In UP, Clashes In Punjab During Bypolls To 15 Assembly Seats Congress' Charanjit Channi, Mukesh Agnihotri Named Observers For J&K Polls Pics: Rahul Gandhi's Family Lunch At Iconic Delhi Restaurant 3 Khalistani Terrorists, Who Attacked Punjab Cops, Killed In UP Encounter Donald Trump Appoints Indian-American, Elon Musk Aide As AI Advisor Delhi High Court Orders CLAT-2025 Results Revision Over Answer Key Errors Who Is Sriram Krishnan, Indian-American Appointed Donald Trump's AI Advisor Thepla And A Drink: Liquor On 1st Surat-Bangkok Flight Runs Out, Officials Say... Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.