Jat leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhava sidelined, Dalit Congress leader Channi is the new Punjab CM
After several days of political uncertainty, finally a new chief minister of Punjab has been declared. The Congress high command and Punjab Congress MLAs have finally elected their leader. He is former cabinet minister of Punjab and bete noire of the outgoing chief minister Captain Amrinder Singh.
After Gyani Zail Singh who had been the non Jat Punjab CM from 1972 to 1977 this is for the second time that Charanjit Singh Channi has been elected as Punjab CM who is a Dalit.
There are 34 seats in Punjab from dalit dominated constituencies out of which Congress has won on 24 seats.
However, Charanjeet Singh Channi is a surprise choice who was earlier offered the post of deputy CM by captain Amrinder Singh to appease him, but he refused his offer.
Three term MLA and former minister as well as the leader of opposition in Punjab Charanjeet Singh Channi has surprised one and all, especially keeping behind the most talked about name of Sukhjinder Singh Randhava who was till evening the final choice of Congress.
Cheema will meet the governor of Punjab Banwari Lal Purohit today morning at 11 and will be sworn in as the new CM of Punjab.
There is tremendous jubilation among the family members and relatives of Channi for whom his choice for Punjab CM was indeed a news of immense shock and surprise. His wife is not believing till yet that he his name has been selected for the next CM of Punjab.
The veteran Congress leader Ambika Soni was first offered the opportunity to replace Captain Amrinder Singh but she politely refused the offer saying that some Sikh MLA should be made the chief minister.
Meanwhile Harish Rawat who is the incharge of Punjab Congress affair had given the news of Channi’s name as the next CM through a tweet.
The Congress high command had send party general secretaries Harish Rawat and Ajay Maken to find a suitable name for the CM’s post after proper consultations with all Congress MLAs and the name of Sukhjinder Singh Randhava was the unanimous choice at the Punjab CLP meet but at the last moment yesterday evening finally Congress high command put forth the name of a Dalit leader Cheema.
While, the Punjab developments have been a great setback for the outgoing CM Captain Amrinder Singh who had ruled the state successfully for nearly ten years, but he has been successful in creating obstacles for his arch rival and state Congress chief Navjyot Singh Siddhu killing his prospects to become the state CM.
However, Sidhu is happy as not only his arch opponent Captain is out, another opponent of the outgoing CM has become the next Punjab CM who is in Sidhu’s camp.
pic : DTE, Punjab website
