Charanjit Singh Channi

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Charanjit Singh Channi
16th Chief Minister of Punjab
In office
20 September 2021 – 16 March 2022
Preceded byAmarinder Singh
Succeeded byBhagwant Mann
Member of the Punjab Legislative Assembly
In office
30 January 2007 – 16 March 2022
Preceded bySatwant Kaur
Succeeded byCharanjit Singh
ConstituencyChamkaur Sahib
Cabinet Minister, Government of Punjab
In office
16 March 2017 – 18 September 2021
GovernorV. P. Singh Badnore
Banwarilal Purohit
Chief MinisterAmarinder Singh
Ministry
  • Technical Education & Industrial Training.
  • Employment Generation.
  • Tourism and Cultural Affairs
Leader of opposition in Punjab assembly
In office
11 December 2015 – 11 November 2016
Preceded byGurseeal Jakhar
Succeeded byHarvinder Singh Phoolka
Personal details
Born (1963-04-02) 2 April 1963 (age 61)[1]
Chamkaur, Punjab, India
Political partyIndian National Congress
SpouseDr. Kamaljit Kaur
Children2
Residence(s)Kharar, SAS Nagar, Mohali
Alma materPanjab University (B.A., L.L.B., PhD) and Punjab Technical University (MBA)
Signature

Charanjit Singh Channi [1] is an Indian politician who served as the 16th Chief Minister of Punjab. He is a member of the Indian National Congress.[2] He was also Minister of Technical Education and Training in Second Amarinder Singh ministry and leader of the opposition in the Punjab Legislative Assembly.[2] He was the first Dalit to become the CM of Punjab.[3]

Early life and education[edit]

Channi was born in the village of Makrauna Kalan, Punjab.[2] He belongs to the Ramdasia Sikh community.[4][5][6][7][8][9] He studied law at Panjab University and has an MBA from PTU Jalandhar.[2] He was awarded PhD in the 70th convocation of Panjab University (PU) by Vice Chancellor Renu Vig in political science in topic related to Indian National Congress with Professor Emanual Nahar as his guide. Now he is PhD Holder in Political Science.[10]

Early political career[edit]

Kharar municipal council[edit]

Channi started his political career as a municipal councillor from a ward in Kharar and was elected as the president of the Kharar municipal council in 2002.[11]

Leader of opposition[edit]

Channi was leader of opposition in the Punjab Legislative Assembly from 2015 to 2016.[2]

Cabinet minister[edit]

He was Minister of Technical Education and Training in Second Amarinder Singh ministry.[2]

Chief Minister of Punjab[edit]

In September 2021, he succeeded Captain Amarinder Singh as Chief Minister of Punjab after the latter's resignation.[2][12] He is the first Dalit Sikh Chief Minister of Punjab.[13][14][15][16] Commentators suggested that Punjab's large Dalit population and attempts by other parties to appeal to it may have influenced Congress's choice of Channi as Singh's successor.[17][18]

On 26 September fifteen new ministers were sworn in; several ministers from the Second Amarinder Singh ministry were retained.[19][20]

Soon after taking office, Channi made several policy announcements. On 21 September he promised action concerning a sacrilege case and said that the electricity bills of water works schemes would be waived and connections would be restored.[21] On 23 September he stated "Class D" government jobs would be regularised; they were previously outsourced.[22] In November 2021, Channi inaugurated his dream project Dastaan-e-Shahadat theme park at Chamkaur Sahib.[23]

On 24 December 2021, Channi approved setting up Punjab State Commission for General Category.[24] Congress leader Navjot Dahiya was appointed its first chairman.[25] On 30 December 2021, Channi started free bus travel for students.[26]

5 January 2022 episode[edit]

On 5 January 2022, in Firozpur district PM Narendra Modi's cavalcade was stranded for 15–20 minutes on flyover as protesting farmers blocked the Moga-Firozpur highway near Piarenana village far away while he was en route to Hussainiwala National Martyrs Memorial.[27][28] Criticized by Bharatiya Janata Party, Channi denied any security lapse and stated he will recite Mahāmrityunjaya Mantra for PM's safety.[29] In February 2022, Channi alleged that Modi has taken revenge by denying permission for his helicopter to fly from Chandigarh.[30]

2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election[edit]

At the end of the legislative assembly term, Channi was appointed the Chief Ministerial candidate of Congress for the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections. Navjot Singh Sidhu was the other contender expecting to be the CM candidate.[31] The official campaign was named Sada Channi, Sada CM (Our Channi, Our CM).[32] Official campaign song Channi Karda Masle Hal by singer Surmandeep Mansa was launched in February 2022.[33]

He contested the 2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election from Chamkaur Sahib and Bhadaur legislative assembly constituencies, but lost both the seats to his opponents from the Aam Aadmi Party.[34] On 11 March 2022, Channi submitted his resignation to Governor.[35] On 21 March 2022, he met and congratulated his successor Bhagwant Mann.[36]

Electoral performance[edit]

Assembly elections from Chamkaur Sahib[edit]

Assembly Election, 2012: Chamkaur Sahib
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
INC Charanjit Singh Channi 54,640 41.26
SAD Jagmeet Kaur 50,981 38.50
PPoP Gurpreet Singh 13,408 10.12
BSP Rajinder Singh 9,164 6.92
IND Haripal 2,877 2.17
Majority 3,659 2.76
Turnout 1,32,430 79.78
INC hold Swing
Assembly Election, 2017: Chamkaur Sahib
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
INC Charanjit Singh Channi 61,060 42.00
AAP Dr. Charanjit Singh 48,752 33.53
SAD Justice Nirmal Singh 31,452 21.63
BSP Rajinder Singh 1,610 1.11
NOTA None of the above 911 0.63
Majority 12,308 8.47
Turnout 1,45,399 77.78
Registered electors 186,932 [37]
INC hold Swing
Assembly Election, 2022: Chamkaur Sahib
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
AAP Dr. Charanjit Singh 70,248 47.6
INC Charanjit Singh Channi[38] 62,306 42.22
SAD(A) Lakhvir Singh 6,974 4.73
BSP Ex. AIG Harmohan Singh Sandhu 3,802 2.58
BJP Shri Darshan Singh Shivjot 2,514 1.7
NOTA None of the above 713 0.48
Majority 7,942 5.38
Turnout 1,47,571
Registered electors 1,97,330 [39]
AAP gain from INC Swing

Assembly election from Bhadaur[edit]

In 2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election Channi was defeated by Labh Singh Ugoke.[40][41]

Assembly Election 2022: Bhadaur
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
AAP Labh Singh Ugoke[42] 63,967 51.07
INC Charanjit Singh Channi[38] 26,409 21.09
SAD Satnam Singh 21,183 16.91
PLC Dharam Singh Fauji 261 0.21
NOTA None of the above 858 0.69
Majority 37,558 29.98
Turnout
Registered electors 1,57,809 [39]
AAP hold

Personal life and image[edit]

Channi is married to Kamaljit Kaur and has two children.[43] He is known to follow astrologers for political gains, he illegally constructed a road from a park outside his official residence in Chandigarh to have east facing entry to his house. He rode an elephant in the lawns of his house in Kharar.[44] In February 2018, Channi flipped a coin to decide the right candidate for the post of a lecturer.[45]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Punjab Legislative Assembly - Charanjit Singh Channi". Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g "Who is Charanjit Singh Channi, the new Punjab chief minister". The Times of India. 19 September 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  3. ^ "channi: Charanjit Channi: Star for 111 days, Dalit leader now back to humdrum politics". The Times of India. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  4. ^ "Charanjit Singh Channi is Punjab's first Dalit CM". Hindustan Times. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  5. ^ Niranjankumar, Nivedita (8 October 2021). "No, This Is Not Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi Getting Baptised". BOOM Live. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  6. ^ "CPunjab gets its first Dalit CM in Charanjit Singh Channi". Telegraph India. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  7. ^ "PM's Message To Charanjit Channi, Punjab's First Dalit Sikh Chief Minister". NDTV. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  8. ^ "Punjab gets its first Dalit Chief Minister in Charanjit Singh Channi". The Hindu. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  9. ^ "After day of drama, Channi is Punjab's first Dalit Sikh CM". The Times of India. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 20 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Charanjit Singh Channi: Who is Charanjit Singh Channi, the new Punjab chief minister - India News". The Times of India. 19 September 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  11. ^ Standard, Business (1 March 1963). "Charanjit Singh Channi - 27th CM of Punjab". Business Standard India. Retrieved 24 March 2022. {{cite news}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  12. ^ Bhardwaj, Bipin (19 September 2021). "Charanjit Singh Channi to be next Punjab Chief Minister". National Herald. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  13. ^ "Charanjit Singh Channi: Punjab's first Sikh Chief Minister - Know all about him". Times Now. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  14. ^ "As Charanjit Channi takes oath as Punjab's 1st Dalit Sikh CM, a look at past Dalit CMs of India". The Print. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 22 September 2021.
  15. ^ "Charanjit Channi Takes Oath as First Dalit CM of Punjab Amid Fresh Infighting, Gets 2 Deputies". india.com. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  16. ^ "Cong picks Channi as Punjab CM, first Dalit to get the top spot in state". Business Standard. 20 September 2021. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  17. ^ Sharma, Manraj Grewal (21 September 2021). "Explained: Five reasons why Congress chose Charanjit Singh Channi as the next Punjab CM". The Indian Express.
  18. ^ Vasudeva, Vikas (25 September 2021). "Charanjit Singh Channi | The common man CM". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  19. ^ "Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi carries out first cabinet expansion". The Hindu. 26 September 2021. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 26 September 2021. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
  20. ^ "Cabinet expansion: Punjab govt wears a new look under Charanjit Singh Channi". mint. 26 September 2021.
  21. ^ "Justice in Bargari sacrilege soon: Charanjit Singh Channi vows at Chamkaur Sahib". Times of India. 21 September 2021.
  22. ^ Kaur, Deepkamal (23 September 2021). "Regular jobs for 'Class D' staff: Punjab CM Channi". The Tribune.
  23. ^ "Chamkaur Sahib: CM, guv open 'Dastan-e-Shahadat' theme park". Hindustan Times. 20 November 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  24. ^ "charanjit singh channi: Punjab cabinet approves setting up State General Category Commission for unreserved classes: Charanjit Singh Channi". The Times of India. 24 December 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  25. ^ The Tribune India (8 January 2022). "Dr Dahiya assumes charge as head of general category panel". The Tribune. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  26. ^ "Free Bus Ride For Punjab Students". The Times of India. 30 December 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  27. ^ Desk, Outlook Web (8 January 2022). "PM Modi's 'Security Lapse' In Punjab Isn't The First, Here Are Other Breaches In The Past". Outlook India. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  28. ^ Sharma, Aman (6 January 2022). "Inside Story: What Transpired at the Ferozepur Flyover Where PM Modi Got Stuck for 20 Mins". News18. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  29. ^ "Security breach in PM's convoy: Channi uses Sardar Patel's quote to target Modi". The New Indian Express. 9 January 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  30. ^ "Channi on helicopter row: Is PM Modi exacting his revenge?". India Today. 15 February 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  31. ^ Sareen, Aneesha; Poulomi Ghosh (6 February 2022). "Charanjit Singh Channi to be Congress CM face in Punjab, announces Rahul Gandhi". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  32. ^ "With announcement of CM face, Congress changes poll strategy in Punjab". India Today. 6 February 2022. Retrieved 26 March 2022.
  33. ^ "Congress releases new campaign song for Channi after official announcement". Hindustan Times. 6 February 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  34. ^ "Punjab assembly election 2022: In setback to Congress, CM Channi loses from both seats". Hindustan Times. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 10 March 2022.
  35. ^ The Tribune India (11 March 2022). "Charanjit Singh Channi resigns as Chief Minister; Punjab Assembly dissolved". The Tribune. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  36. ^ "Punjab: Charanjit Singh Channi meets Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann in Chandigarh". ANI News. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  37. ^ Chief Electoral Officer - Punjab. "Electors and Polling Stations - VS 2017" (PDF). Retrieved 24 June 2021.
  38. ^ a b "Punjab Elections 2022: Full list of Congress Candidates and their Constituencies". FE Online. No. The Financial Express (India). The Indian Express Group. 18 February 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  39. ^ a b "Punjab General Legislative Election 2022". Election Commission of India. Retrieved 18 May 2022.
  40. ^ "Punjab polls: Charanjit Singh Channi, who lost from both seats, resigns as CM". Hindustan Times. 11 March 2022. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  41. ^ न्यूज, जैनेंद्र, एबीपी (11 March 2022). "पंजाब सीएम को हराने वाले डॉ. चरणजीत सिंह बोले- आंखों के रास्ते लोगों के दिलों में बनाई जगह". www.abplive.com (in Hindi). Retrieved 12 March 2022.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  42. ^ "Punjab Elections 2022: Full list of Aam Aadmi Party candidates and their constituencies". The Financial Express. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 23 January 2022.
  43. ^ Sharma, Manraj Grewal (19 September 2021). "Who is Charanjit Singh Channi, the man all set to be next Punjab CM?". The Indian Express.
  44. ^ Vasudeva, Ravinder (26 October 2018). "Punjab minister Charanjit Singh Channi is not new to controversies". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 24 March 2022.
  45. ^ "Punjab Minister Charanjit Singh Channi Flips Coin To Make A Decision, Caught On Camera". NDTV.com. 10 March 2022. Retrieved 24 March 2022.