Channi (right) called Vikramjit (left) “Duryodhan” suggesting that he had led to his own downfall by getting his mother to join the BJP. (File photo)The war of words in Jalandhar unit of the Congress took another turn on Sunday when former MP late Santokh Singh Chaudhary’s son Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary called party’s candidate from the seat and former CM Charanjit Singh Channi “Shakuni mama” of Mahabharat.
The name calling comes a day after Channi had called Vikramjit “Duryodhan”. The bickering and war of words in Jalandhar Congress started the day Channi was chosen as the party’s candidate instead of considering Vikramjit’s mother Karamjit Kaur Chaudhary for the ticket thus upsetting the Congress MLA from Phillaur and his supporters.
Karamjit had contested the 2023 bypolls for the Jalandhar Lok Sabha seat after the untimely death of her husband during Rahul Gandhi’s first Bharat Jodo Yatra.
However, she lost the seat to AAP’s Sushil Kumar Rinku by a margin of over 58, 000 votes and AAP bagged its lone Lok Sabha seat from the state.
The Chaudhary family, which has been associated with the Congress for decades, wanted the ticket for her this time too, but the once bitten twice shy Congress, chose to repose its faith in the former CM and Dalit face Channi.
In protest, Vikramjit resigned from the post of Chief Whip in the Punjab Assembly, and his mother joined the BJP.
After her joining, Channi called Vikramjit “Duryodhan” suggesting that he had led to his own downfall by getting his mother to join the BJP. In retaliation, Vikramjit called Channi “Shakuni mama” and mentioned that the Enforcement Directorate confiscated Rs 10 crore from Channi’s nephew’s place.
He also criticised Channi saying that he doesn’t respect women, citing instances where Channi had sent objectionable messages to a female IAS officer. “While Channi talks about the Ramayana and Mahabharata and calls himself Sudama (Lord Krishna’s poor friend), this doesn’t suit him, as he behaves more like Shakuni Mama.”
Vikramjit also clarified that only his mother joined the BJP and not him and his mother had clarified about her decision that she was ignored despite the sacrifice of her husband.
Meanwhile, Congress MLA and former minister Pargat Singh also targeted Vikramjit, alleging that he had sent his family to the BJP and remained in the Congress only to retain his MLA position and its associated perks. He questioned why Vikramjit couldn’t resign and contest as a BJP candidate from Phillaur.