NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi, on Sunday announced Charanjit Singh Channi as the Congress' chief ministerial candidate for the Punjab Assembly elections. But the BJP has criticised Rahul Gandhi's announcement of chief ministerial candidate by questioning his authority of power.

Union Water Resources Minister and BJP leader Gajendra Singh Shekhawat has said that Rahul Gandhi does not hold any position in the Congress party and therefore has no power to make such a declaration. He said that Rahul Gandhi was only one of the Congress MPs and the people of Punjab should know what power he holds in the party. He added that Rahul Gandhi had resigned as the Congress president following his defeat in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Shekhawat scoffed that his only qualification now was the family name 'Gandhi'.