The Congress on Tuesday named former legislator Ramanjit Singh Sikki as its candidate for the by-election to the Punjab legislative assembly from Khadoor Sahib constituency.
"Congress president Sonia Gandhi has approved the proposal for the candidature of Ramanjit Singh Sikki, an ex-legislator, to contest by-election from Khadoor Sahib assembly constituency in Punjab," the party said in a statement.
The seat fell vacant after Sikki quit in October last year to protest deteriorating law and order in the state.
Sikki had said he was upset over the desecration of the Sikh holy book Guru Granth Sahib, which led to protests and violence in Punjab.
He accused the Akali Dal-BJP government lf "failing to maintain law and order in the state".
The by-election will be held on February 13.