New Punjab CM-designate likely to have 2 deputies

Chandigarh, Sep 20 Newly-appointed Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, 58, will have two Deputy Chief Ministers and they will take the oath of office on Monday at a ceremony here likely to be attended by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.

Party sources said one of the Deputy Chief Ministers would be a Jat Sikh and the other one could be from the Hindu community.

It is learnt that sitting Cabinet ministers Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Brahm Singh Mohindra, who is known for his proximity with outgoing Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, have been cleared for the posts of the Deputy Chief Minister.

Former Chandigarh MP and AICCC treasurer Pawan Bansal in a tweet confirmed the appointment of Randhawa and Mohindra as the deputies to the Chief Minister.

"Heartiest congratulations to @Charnjit_channi for elevation as #PunjabCM and @BrahmMohindra & @Sukhjinder_INC as Dy CMs. Best wishes for their grand success in the service of Punjab under the leadership of Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Sh. @RahulGandhi," Bansal tweeted.

"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," state party in-charge Harish Rawat told the media on Sunday.

The new Chief Minister and his expected new Cabinet comes just months ahead of the Assembly polls in Punjab.

Ahead of his oath-taking ceremony, the chief minister-designate on Monday morning paid obeisance at Gurdwara Katalgarh Sahib at Chamkaur Sahib, his home constituency.

Channi was accompanied by his family.