Ex-Punjab CM Charanjit Channi returns to India months after Congress’s poll debacle
On his return, the Congress leader Channi tweeted a photo in which he was seen presenting a bouquet to Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and congratulating her for “the party’s historic victory in Himachal Pradesh polls”.
He later also met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. “Paying my regards to Hon’ble President AICC Mr. Mallikarjun Kharge Ji,” he tweeted after meeting the veteran politician.
After his recent tweets, speculations are rife over his role in Congress party. Channi, a Dalit leader, was handpicked by Rahul Gandhi as the face of Congress Party in Punjab. He was chosen over the then-Punjab Congress President Navjyot Singh Sidhu.
From being a “tent wala” to Punjab CM, the rise of Channi during the poll months was stupendous but short-lived. Channi returned to India three days ago and has been in the national capital to meet senior leaders.
Meanwhile, Punjab Mining Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Harjot Singh Bains told India Today that CM Bhagwant Mann-led state govermment is acting against the mining mafia. “Be it Channi or SAD leaders, all those involved will be questioned. We have enough proof that there has been an illegal sand mining mafia in Punjab which was being sheltered by the Congress and Akali leaders,” Bains said.
Bhupinder Singh Honey, nephew of former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, was arrested and subsequently charged in an illegal mining case. The controversy put Channi on the backfoot during the Punjab polls.
Charanjit Singh Channi lost from both Chamkaur Sahib and Bhadaur with AAP coming to power with a landslide majority. AAP stormed to power in Punjab with a thumping majority of 92 seats in the 117-member state Assembly, while Congress slid down to 18 seats, down from 77 seats in 2017.
