Rajmeet Singh
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 20
Congress leader Charanjit Singh Channi was on Monday sworn in as chief minister of Punjab, making him the first Dalit to hold the top post in the state.
Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and OP Soni were also sworn in. They will be designated as deputy chief ministers.
Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit administered the oath to the 58-year-old Channi at a ceremony held at the Raj Bhawan here.
Channi took oath in Punjabi.
Prominent among those who were present at the oath-taking ceremony were Rahul Gandhi and Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu.
Amarinder Singh, who resigned as chief minister two days back, was conspicuous by his absence.
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Earlier, announcing Channi’s appointment, All-India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary and Punjab affairs in-charge Harish Rawat had said: “Charanjit Singh Channi has been unanimously elected as leader of the Congress Legislature Party of Punjab”.
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Flanked by Rawat, PPCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu and AICC-appointed observers Harish Chaudhary and Ajay Maken, Channi met Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit in the evening to stake claim to forming a government.
A minister in the outgoing Capt Amarinder Singh-led Cabinet, Channi’s election as the Congress Legislature Party leader came a day after Capt Amarinder quit amid bitter infighting in the Pradesh Congress. Channi’s tenure will be short as Punjab goes to the polls early next year. A confidant of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, he is believed to be one of the architects of the coup against Capt Amarinder Singh. He played a crucial role in bringing Sidhu and Majha stalwarts Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Tript Rajinder Bajwa, Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria and MP Partap Bajwa on a common platform against Capt over “unkept” poll promises.
Channi emerged as a dark horse. The AICC-appointed observers and Rawat had reportedly zeroed in on Sukhjinder Randhawa’s name, but Sidhu vehemently opposed the decision. The party high command then chose Channi. Post reorganisation, Punjab has had only Jat CMs, the only exceptions being Giani Zail Singh from the Ramgarhia community, and Gurmukh Singh Musafir, a Khatri. With PTI
Charanjit Singh Channi takes oath as Punjab chief minister
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