Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, September 19
The All India Congress Committee cleared the name of Dalit leader Charanjit Singh Channi as the new Chief Minister of Punjab—a development that comes after a day of hectic political activity that saw pulls and pressures from several claimants.
Channi will become the first Dalit Sikh leader to become the chief minister, although his term would be short given that the state would vote for a new assembly early next year. He was the leader of the opposition from 2015 until 2017 when Congress was voted to power.
Harish Rawat, the AICC General Secretary in charge of Punjab, made a formal announcement on Sunday evening.
“It gives me immense pleasure to announce that Sh. Charanjit Singh Channi has been unanimously elected as the Leader of the Congress Legislature Party of Punjab,” Punjab Congress in-charge Harish Rawat said.
Punjab CM-designate Charanjit Singh Channi reached Governor’s house with AICC observers. Governor Banwarilal Purohit had called senior Congress leaders, including Channi and Rawat, to meet him.
Channi’s family also reached Punjab Raj Bhavan.
‘My best wishes to Charanjit Singh Channi. I hope he’s able to keep the border state of Punjab safe and protect our people from the growing security threat from across the border’: @capt_amarinder pic.twitter.com/oO2F6JUZ6J
— Raveen Thukral (@RT_Media_Capt) September 19, 2021
Congratulating Channi, Capt Amarinder Singh said, “My best wishes to Charanjit Singh Channi. I hope he’s able to keep the border state of Punjab safe and protect our people from the growing security threat from across the border.”
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- Capt Amarinder: ‘He is incompetent, will oppose any move to make Navjot Sidhu CM’
The appointment of a Dalit face in the otherwise in the Jat-dominated Punjab politics would change the dynamics of the state politics in the run-up to the 2022 Assembly elections. Dalits have 33 per cent vote share in the state.
Channi’s appointment came through after Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief Navjot Singh Sidhu objected to Sukhjinder Randhawa, whose name the AICC appointed observers had previously zeroed in on for the position.
It gives me immense pleasure to announce that Sh. #CharanjitSinghChanni has been unanimously elected as the Leader of the Congress Legislature Party of Punjab.@INCIndia @RahulGandhi @INCPunjab pic.twitter.com/iboTOvavPd
— Harish Rawat (@harishrawatcmuk) September 19, 2021
Sh. Harish Rawat and senior leaders of Punjab, including newly elected CLP leader, have been called by Hon’ble Governor at 6:30 PM.
— Ajay Maken (@ajaymaken) September 19, 2021
Punjab: Charanjit Singh Channi is next CM pick; Capt Amarinder extends best wishes
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