Charanjit Singh Channi wins Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat with record margin: a peep into history

In the Lok Sabha elections 2024, Channi secured a 39.43 per cent vote share against 21.64 per cent for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Sushil Kumar Rinku, resulting in a significant gap of 17.79 per cent between the winner and the runner-up.

Channi said the people of Jalandhar have rejected all turncoats who switched parties frequently before the elections. During his campaign, he highlighted this issue prominently and said, “Log inha dal badluan nu muh ni lagan ge” (People will not take these turncoats seriously)”.

Channi’s prediction turned out to be true, as evidenced by his substantial victory margin.

There were only four occasions before the Lok Sabha elections 2024 when the victory margin on the Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat was over one lakh votes. From 1999 to 2019, Congress had an unbeaten run in Jalandhar in all general elections, except for a defeat in the 2023 by-election when the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate, defeated the Congress nominee with a margin of over 58,000 votes.

To understand Channi’s impressive margin, one can look into the history of the Jalandhar seat.

Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat from 2014-2019

In 2019, Congress’s Santokh Chaudhary won with a 37.90 per cent vote share against SAD-BJP candidate Charanjit Singh Atwal, who secured 35.90 per cent of votes, with a winning margin of 19,515 votes. In 2014, Chaudhary garnered a 36.56 per cent vote share against the SAD’s Pawan Kumar Tinu, who received 29.74 per cent, resulting in a winning margin of 70,981 votes.

Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat from 2004-2009

In 2009, Congress’s Mohinder Singh Kaypee secured a 45.34 per cent vote share with 408,103 votes against the SAD’s Hans Raj Hans, who got 41.29 per cent with 371,658 votes, yielding a winning margin of 36,445 votes. In 2004, Rana Gurjit Singh won against the SAD’s Naresh Gujral with a margin of 33,463 votes. Gujral is the son of former prime minister I K Gujral.

Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat from 1992-1999

In 1999, Congress’s Balbir Singh won with a margin of 34,566 votes (47.48 per cent) against the SAD’s Prabhjot Kaur. In 1998, I K Gujral won with a margin of 131,016 votes against Congress’s Umrao Singh. In 1996, the SAD’s Darbara Singh won against Congress’s Umrao Singh with a margin of 18,555 votes. In 1991-92, Congress leader Yash won against the BJP’s Jugal Mahajan with a margin of 113,813 votes.

Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat from 1980-1989

In 1989, Janata Dal leader I K Gujral won against Congress’s Rajwinder Singh with a margin of 80,358 votes. In 1984-85, Rajinder Singh Sparrow of the Congress won against the SAD’s Pritam Singh with a margin of 69,643 votes. In 1980, Rajinder Singh Sparrow won against Janata Pary (JNP)’s Sarup Singh with a margin of 72,321 votes.

Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat from 1967-1977

In 1977, the SAD’s Iqbal Singh won against Congress’s Swaran Singh with a margin of 118,108 votes. In 1971, Congress leader Swaran Singh won against the SAD’s Iqbal Singh with a margin of 93,469 votes. In 1967, Swaran Singh of the Congress won against Swatantra Party (SWA) leader S P Singh with a margin of 31,480 votes.

Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat from 1952-1962

In 1962, Swaran Singh of Congress won against Kartar Singh of SWA with a margin of 69,081 votes. In 1957, Swaran Singh of Congress won against Chanan Ram of the Scheduled Caste Federation (SCF) with a margin of 100,962 votes. In 1951-52, Amar Nath of Congress won against SAD’s Ajit Singh with a margin of 34,458 votes.