In school days, we used to hear a story. One senior would announce himself to be the captain and leave it to the rest to choose the remaining team.This has been the story of Punjab politics where the choice of CM becomes public before the elections.

Punjab has been producing strong Chief Ministers like Partap Singh Kairon, Giani Zail Singh, Mr Lachman Singh Gill, Darbara Singh, Parkash Singh Badal, Capt Amarinder Singh and Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal. Other strong aspirants, though they were there, could not break the ice.

One of them was Mr Gurcharan Singh Tohra, the longest serving chief of the SGPC. He remained member of both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha and held top positions in Sikh politics.

Another leader has been Simranjit Singh Mann, who resigned from the IPS in protest against Operation Blue Star. He won Tarn Taran and Sangrur Lob Sabha seats, but couldn’t make it to the assembly.

After Gopi Chand Bhargav and Bhim Sen Sachar, Comrade Ram Krishan was the only other Hindu to become Punjab CM. Sunil Kumar, from Jakhar family, was a front runner for the post after Captain was asked to quit. Statements by another Hindu leader, a woman, “ruined” his chances saying a Hindu would be least acceptable as a CM.

Jathedar Mohan Singh Tur and Jathedar Jeewan Singh Umranangal were strong Sikh leaders from Majha. They had the potential but they never got in that race.

Of woman candidates Gurbinder Brar was often mentioned as possible CM. Her husband Harcharan Singh Brar became CM. Mrs Rajinder Kaur Bhattal became the first woman CM.

Among Hindu aspirants were Satpal Mittal, Sardari Lal Kapoor, and Dr Kewal Krishan. Along with Sunil Jakhar, in the run was Sukhwinder Singh Randhawa. His father Santokh Singh Randhawa was a tall leader and remained PPCC chief and minister in Congress governments.

Sukhjinder Singh, shortlisted, was overtaken by Charanjit Singh Channi and became the first Dalit CM.

In Shiromani Akali Dal , other than Sukhbir Singh Badal, Manpreet Badal another contender for Chief Ministership. He left Akali Dal as Finance Minister apprehending that his cousin would be named successor to Parkash Singh Badal after the five time CM was hospitalised.

Few families have been ruling Punjab and they didn’t lose control till Bhagwant Mann became Chief Minister in 2022. AAP had declared him Chief Ministerial candidate. He was the only sitting MP of AAP representing Sangrur when he contested assembly election in 2022.

Many believed that Arvind Kejriwal would be Chief Minister. Several Opposition leaders continued to hold that it was Raghav Chadha who was the de facto CM of Punjab. After Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest, things have become clear.

(Prabhjot Singh is a veteran journalist with over three decades of experience of 14 years with Reuters News and 30 years with The Tribune Group, covering a wide spectrum of subjects and stories. He has covered Punjab and Sikh affairs for more than three decades besides covering seven Olympics and several major sporting events and hosting TV shows.)