Ambika Soni turned down an offer to become the CM of Punjab

New delhi date. 13

Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Ambika Soni has refused to become the Chief Minister of Punjab. His name was discussed late last night after Amarinder Singh's resignation, but he met Rahul Gandhi and refused to take up the post.

According to sources, Ambika Soni topped the list of possible chief ministers after Captain Amarinder Singh resigned as Punjab chief minister. Soni had urged the party leadership to hand over the helm of the state to a Sikh. Ambika Soni is currently a Rajya Sabha MP from Punjab and has held the post of Minister for Culture, Tourism and Information and Broadcasting in the UPA Central Government. He is considered close to the Gandhi family. Ambika Soni is a resident of Honshiarpur in Punjab.

Ambika Soni has refused to take up this important post citing health. However, he told the party leadership that only a Sikh should be appointed to the post. Several senior Congress leaders also tried to persuade Sony, but they refused. The Congress assembly party meeting was adjourned after Soni's refusal. The meeting was to formally announce the name of the new Chief Minister. However, no other names were agreed upon. Former state president and a close ally of Amarinder, Sunil Jakhar, is leading the race to become CM after Amarinder Singh resigned. Apart from this, the names of Navjot Singh Sidhu, Pratap Bajwa and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa were also involved in the race. However, in the end, Charanjit Channy was selected as the next Chief Minister of Punjab.