New Delhi, July 3
Former Punjab CM and Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi, who was named Chairperson of the Punjab Congress Election Committee on July 1, has now raised a banner of revolt against the party high command’s decision. Upset at not being appointed Punjab Congress president or projected as the chief ministerial face, Channi convened a meeting at his residence, attended by some detractors of Warring.
Notably, none of Punjab’s six Congress MPs or senior leaders, such as Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa and former Deputy CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, were present. Political observers have termed Channi’s move “ill-conceived,” arguing that it serves no purpose: the AICC is unlikely to reverse its decision and the rebellion may only weaken the party’s chances in next year’s assembly elections.
“Channi conveniently forgets that it was Rahul Gandhi who elevated him as Punjab’s Chief Minister in September 2021, making him the state’s first Dalit leader to hold the post,” remarked a senior Congress leader, adding, “Ambitions are good, but one should not be over-ambitious.”
After convening the meeting, Channi’s detractors hit back, branding him as one of the most incompetent and controversial leaders — and they cite reasons. One such controversy dates back to November 2018, during the #MeToo movement, when a woman IAS officer accused Channi of sending inappropriate text messages. Although no formal complaint was filed and then Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh intervened to settle the matter, the issue resurfaced in June 2021. Punjab State Women Commission chairperson Manisha Gulati reopened the case suo motu, demanding a government response and even threatening a hunger strike.
In March 2018, Bholath MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira, then Leader of Opposition, accused Channi of involvement in illegal mining. Though Channi denied the charge, the allegation added to the cloud of suspicion surrounding him. The controversies deepened in January 2022, weeks before the Assembly elections, when the Enforcement Directorate raided multiple locations, including the residence of his nephew, Bhupinder Singh Honey. The ED claimed to have seized large sums of cash and documents linked to illegal sand mining.
Allegations of misconduct, superstition and corruption — from the #MeToo text controversy to the ED raids — steadily eroded his image. His defeat in both Chamkaur Sahib and Bhadaur constituencies in the 2022 elections underscored how these controversies, combined with the Aam Aadmi Party’s surge, exposed Channi’s political immaturity and incompetence.