On day of drama, Congress picks Dalit face Charanjit Singh Channi as new Punjab CM

Channi, the Chamkaur Sahib MLA and minister, is the first Dalit leader to be selected as chief minister of the state.

4 min readChandigarhUpdated: Sep 20, 2021 02:41 AM IST

As Charanjit Singh Channi become CM the SC population of state have become active, staging dharnas and sending out their demands to the new dispensation.(file photo)

Punjab on Sunday got its first Dalit Chief Minister with Technical Education Minister Charanjit Singh Channi nominated as Congress Legislative Party (CLP) leader on Sunday.

Channi (58) replaces Amarinder Singh, who had stepped down as CM on Saturday. A legislator from Chamkaur Sahib, Channi has been a CLP member and Leader of Opposition in the previous SAD-BJP government in the state.

Channi had been vocal in raising the Dalit issues in the state and had recently rebelled against Amarinder. He is considered close to AICC leader Rahul Gandhi and became the choice of the Congress high command for the post after two Jat Sikhs Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and PPCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu opposed the party’s move to appoint a Hindu leader Sunil Jakhar. His name was announced amid the fight for power among the Jat Sikh leaders.

Charanjit Singh Channi on Sunday.

The appointment of then CM remained a cliffhanger on Sunday with the high command not able to finalise a name till Sunday evening after a battle of Hindu vs Sikh face ensued in the Congress.

The party had to defer its CLP meet, which was to be reconvened at 11 am on Sunday to zero in on a name for the chief minister’s post. Party general secretary-in-charge Harish Rawat and two Central observers Ajay Maken and Harish Chaudhary held parleys with various leaders including two aspirants –PPCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu and Cabinet Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa.

Randhawa, sources said, was opposed to Jakhar’s name on the plea that a non-Sikh should not be the CM of a Sikh majority state. He was heard out by the committee of observers. His name was however not finalised even though his supporters made a beeline to his house to congratulate him.

Later, an emissary of the high command visited Randhawa at his residence and conveyed to him that he should withdraw from the race of the next CM.

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Charanjit Singh Channi replaces Amarinder Singh, who had stepped down as CM on Saturday.

Sidhu, who also met the committee and held a long meeting is learnt to have impressed upon them that if a Jat Sikh has to be made the CM, then it has to be him. A discussion on the name of Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu as PPCC chief also took place in case Sidhu was to be made the CM, sources said. He is learnt to have suggested party MP Dr Amar Singh’s name as an alternative to him. Dr Amar Singh is also Sidhu’s advisor. However, after the meeting, a visibly upset Sidhu left the hotel premises where the meeting took place. He refused to speak to the media.

The frontrunners kept changing throughout the day with Rajya Sabha MP Ambika Soni topping the list on Sunday morning, after former PPCC chief Sunil Jakhar on Saturday.

Soni, however, told the media that she had declined the offer and that a Sikh should be made the CM as it was the party’s tradition in the reorganised Punjab.

The party decided on the final name even after taking opinion from MLAs about the CM of their choice. The observers called up several MLAs. Jakhar turned out to be the choice of maximum 41 MLAs, and 17 MLAs are learnt to have sought Randhawa and nine suggested MP Preneet Kaur’s name, sources said.

Kanchan Vasdev

Kanchan Vasdev is a Senior Assistant Editor in The Indian Express’ Punjab bureau. She is a highly experienced journalist with 22 years of expertise covering high-stakes politics, governance, and social issues in Northern India. Professional Background Role: Primary reporter covering the Punjab Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), government policies, and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership in the state. Experience: She previously worked with The Tribune and has played a key role in launching various city editions. Special Projects: Abandoned Brides: Authored a monograph on brides abandoned by NRIs as part of the Prabha Dutt Memorial Fellowship. Environment: Worked as a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) fellow, focusing on the pollution levels in the Satluj river. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reporting focuses on the legislative strategies and political maneuvers of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government: 1. Legislative & Governance Standoffs "Punjab govt advances special Assembly session to pass resolution against VB-G RAM G Bill" (Dec 20, 2025): Reporting on the state's move to block the Centre's "Viksit Bharat" mission, which the state claims will undermine MGNREGA. "Punjab govt doubles down on special sessions, sixth in January" (Dec 19, 2025): Detailing the AAP government's use of special sessions as a legislative tool amid tensions with the Governor. "Punjab asks 'VIP teachers' working near Chandigarh to go back to border districts" (Dec 16, 2025): Reporting on CM Mann's move to end the practice of influential teachers avoiding postings in remote areas. 2. Political Analysis & Rural Polls "Punjab rural polls: Why Akalis are likened to dinosaurs in Punjab" (Dec 19, 2025): Analyzing CM Bhagwant Mann's rhetoric against the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) following local body elections. "AAP claims win in 78% Punjab zila parishads as counting continues" (Dec 18, 2025): Breaking down the results of the 2025 rural elections. "Rahul Gandhi and Sidhu alike, says Bhagwant Mann" (Dec 13, 2025): Covering the CM's critique of the Congress leadership. 3. Law Enforcement & Bureaucracy "Suspended Punjab IPS officer Ravjot Kaur Grewal awaits reinstatement" (Dec 10, 2025): Investigative reporting on the bureaucratic red tape involving the Election Commission and the state government. "Punjab declines to give parole to Amritpal Singh" (Nov 27, 2025): Detailing the state government's refusal to grant parole to the radical preacher and sitting MP. 4. Welfare & Economy "Punjab government's plan to add more freebies to 'atta-dal' scheme hits funds roadblock" (Dec 4, 2024): An analysis of the fiscal challenges facing the state's flagship food security program. "Mann leads Punjab delegation to Japan and South Korea for investor outreach" (Dec 2, 2025). Signature Beat Kanchan Vasdev is known for her insider access to Punjab's political executive. Her writing provides deep insights into how state policies are formulated and the friction points between the state government and central authorities. Her dual expertise in environment and law allows her to report on complex issues like the "Farmhouse Policy" (Dec 18, 2025) and river pollution with a unique policy-oriented lens. X (Twitter): @kanchan99 ... Read More

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