Nearly five months ago, when Maharaja of Patiala Capt Amarinder Singh was virtually ousted from the Chief Minister’s post on September 19, his Minister Charanjit Singh Channi would not have thought that he is going to replace him and wear the crown. But, after leading the State for 111 days as Punjab’s 16th Chief Minister, he went on to become the most popular leader of the Congress party, outsmarting the cricketer-turned-politician and Punjab party chief Navjot Singh Sidhu to be the party’s face for February 20 polls.
As Channi attributed the selection to his “hard work” and faith the people and the party leadership posed in him, there are several other factors, including being a Dalit leader, that worked in his favour in the race against Sidhu.
Channi has been associated with the Congress for a long time, while Sidhu is a turncoat and is just five-year-old in the grand old party. Channi has risen to this stage after starting from the bottom level. He was municipal councillor and president, before he was elected as MLA, and later the Minister. He was also the Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Legislative Assembly. Apart from this, many MLAs are also backing Channi as the party’s CM face.
On September 20, Channi took over as Punjab’s first Dalit Chief Minister. In fact, at present, he is the only Dalit Chief Minister in the country.
Born in a Ramdasia Sikh family in Makrona Kalan near Chamkaur Sahib, Channi’s father was a sarpanch (village head) who had also briefly worked in Malaysia to support his family. Channi studied at Sri Guru Gobind Singh College, Chandigarh, after which he studied law at Panjab University, Chandigarh. He also has an MBA from Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar.
After being a municipal councillor in Kharar for three terms, he contested as an independent candidate from Chamkaur Sahib in 2007 and won. He won again in 2012 as a Congress candidate and went on to become the Leader of Opposition in 2015-16. In 2017, Channi was again elected MLA as a Congress candidate and became a Minister in Capt Amarinder Singh's government.
In his short term as the Chief Minister, Channi emerged as the most popular Congress leader in the state. Several opinion polls and the party's own internal surveys have shown that Channi is ahead of not just other Congress leaders but also rivals from other parties like Bhagwant Mann as a chief ministerial face.
Channi’s tough stand during the Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent Punjab visit also added to his stature. Also, there was a fear in the Congress that in case it did not declare Channi as CM candidate, the party would send a wrong signal among the Dalits — which it could not afford considering the fact that the state has 32 percent Dalit voters.
RESPECT TO SIDHU
As Channi’s name was announced pushing Sidhu out of the hotly contested race for the top job, the Chief Minister assured the state police chief that he will have a significant role in ruling the State if the government was re-elected.
Not only words, Channi showed all respect to Sidhu by gestures. Channi touched his feet, after which Sidhu cheered the party’s Chief Ministerial candidate by raising his hand in jubilation.
Soon, Rahul Gandhi was seen hugging Sidhu, Channi, and Sunil Jakhar. Putting up a united face, all leaders raised their hands in the air, ending weeks of speculation about the infighting in the party and sending out the message of unity.
“Sidhu ji, Jo tusi karna chahte ho, tusi karoge (Whatever you want to do, you'll do). Your model will be implemented,” Channi said.
Before the announcement, Sidhu had reiterated that everyone will abide by Rahul Gandhi’s decision on the matter of CM face for the state elections.
BIG FIGHT, CAN’T FIGHT ALONE: CHANNI
Taking to stage after his name was announced, Channi said: “This is a great fight. I can’t do it alone. I can only fight for the CM position with the people of Punjab”.
“Rahul Gandhi ji has announced that my name has been selected after asking all the people of Punjab and workers. I am thankful to all ...I have get another chance on the basis of my 11 days performance and the big decisions we had taken during this period,” Channi said.
Rahul Gandhi also praised Channi for working for the common man. “Channi is the son of a poor family. He knows poverty. Did u see any arrogance in him? He goes and meets people... Channi is the voice of the poor,” he said.
Drawing a parallel between Channi and BJP’s two biggest campaigners—prime Minister Modi and UP Chief Minister Yogi, Rahul Gandhi said: “Modi ji is Prime Minster, Yogi ji is a Chief Minister. Have you seen the PM going and meeting people? Have you seen the PM helping anyone on the road? PM Modi is a raja (king), he won't help anyone.”
SIDHU BODY LANGUAGE SAID IT ALL
As actions speak louder than words, Sidhu’s body language on stage was revealing much more than he was trying to hide. It is believed that the CM name reveal was made to the top leaders beforehand.
As the Sidhu was asked to take the stage, his iconic “batting stroke” gesture lacked the usual aggressiveness. Always declaring that he wont be just a darshani ghoda (showpiece), on Sunday, he said that he would be arbi ghoda who is known for winning races.
Sidhu also admitted that he has “already agreed with Rahul Gandhi's decision”, and “even if you don't give me decision-making power, still I will support the next Chief Minister”.
Using his usual strain of ‘thoko taali’ but missing that customary style, Sidhu said that Rahul Gandhi is the only person who can make Charanjit Singh Channi the chief minister. “Rahul Ji, Sidhu ashiq hai Punjab da,” he said adding that he will always remain a worker of the party and only a Minister becomes an ex, but a worker never becomes ‘ex’.
RAGA TACKLED SIDHU
“Political leaders are not born in 10-15 days, leaders are not made by participating in television debates,” said Rahul Gandhi, minutes before announcing the CM face — ruining Sidhu’s ambitions for the top post.
At the same time, Rahul Gandhi also made it clear that it was not his decision, but that of the people and workers. “I have not decided about it. I asked this to Punjab's people, youth, members of the working committee...I may have an opinion but your opinion is more important than mine...Punjabis told us that we need a person who can understand the poor,” he said.
He highlighted that the Congress party has its own “system” to develop the leaders. Citing his example, he said: “I have been in politics since 2004...I have not learnt as much as I have in the last six or seven years. Those who think politics is an easy job, they are wrong. There are many commentators, but it is not easy to groom a leader.” Notably, Sidhu joined Congress just ahead of the 2017 polls, after spending 13 years in the BJP.
“It was a difficult decision but the people of Punjab made it easy as they wanted a CM who comes from a poor family,” Rahul Gandhi said, after sharing anecdotes about Channi, Navjot Singh Sidhu and Sunil Jakhar.
He added that Congress is a party of diamonds and it is not easy to pick one among them.
MET SIDHU FIRST TIME 40 YRS BACK: RAGA
Tactically delaying the announcement of CM face, Rahul Gandhi recollected stories about Sidhu, Channi, and Jakhar.
Rahul Gandhi reminisced the first time he met Sidhu, saying that he did not remember at all.
Narrating 40-year-old incident, Rahul Gandhi said: “It was a Sunday like today. A cricket match in Doon school and Yadvindra Public School came to play cricket there...I saw Sidhu as a bowler; six wickets, 130 runs, and the Doon school team were out.
Someone told me he is Navjot Singh Sidhu. I asked him who's he. He told me he is a fast bowler. And then he came as the opening batsman and made 98 runs,” Rahul Gandhi said.
“Then he went on to become a commentator, then a comedian and then a politician. Yes, sometimes he becomes emotional, but he has Punjab in his blood,” he added. Talking about Sunil Jakhar, Rahul Gandhi said that Sunil Jakhar is one person who can discuss anything about Punjab.