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This is an archive article published on January 30, 2022

After Rahul’s remark on CM face, Congress puts up Channi from 2 seats

In its third list of eight candidates, released on Sunday, the Congress has bet on former mayor Vishnu Sharma to take on former chief minister Amarinder Singh from Patiala Urban, where the party had earlier considered veteran leader Lal Singh.

Charanjit Singh Channi, Punjab Assembly elections 2022, Punjab Congress, Congress, Kharar, Vijay Sharma Tinku, liquor businessman, Indian Express, India news, current affairs, Indian Express News Service, Express News Service, Express News, Indian Express India News

CM Charanjit Singh Channi from Chamkaur Sahib and Bhadaur. (File)

Days after Rahul Gandhi announced that the Congress will project a chief minister face in Punjab before the state polls, the party has fielded Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi from a second seat in what is seen as a signal that he is the frontrunner in the race. But the move has also sent out mixed signals.

Channi’s name figured in the third list of eight candidates announced by the Congress Sunday. The party called the two-seat move a “masterstroke” aimed at denting Aam Aadmi Party’s prospects by consolidating Dalit votes in the heartland of Malwa, a stronghold of AAP.

But opinion in the party is clearly divided.

A section of the Congress said fielding Channi from Bhadaur (SC), besides his home turf of Chamkaur Sahib, was aimed at consolidating Dalit votes in Sangrur and Barnala districts. AAP’s CM face Bhagwant Mann is the Lok Sabha MP from Sangrur, and had a clear lead in all the nine Assembly segments in the constituency.

This section of the party argued that the Congress, by fielding Channi from two seats, was trying to send out a message that he was its strongest state leader. But some of the senior leaders argued that Channi was on a “weak wicket” in Chamkaur Sahib and fielding him from a second seat was a “desperate move”. Expectedly, AAP chief and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said Channi has been fielded from a second seat because he was losing in Chamkaur Sahib.

In the 2017 Assembly elections, Amarinder Singh, then spearheading the Congress, had contested from two seats — Lambi against Akali Dal patriarch Parkash Singh Badal and Patiala. In Uttarakhand, Harish Rawat as Chief Minister had contested from two seats the same year. Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, too, had contested from two seats in the 2018 Assembly elections.

“Channi could have taken on (SAD leader) Sukhbir Singh Badal in Jalalabad, which has around 70 per cent Dalit population. He could have taken on Mann in nearby Dhuri. It would have sent a strong signal and pushed the SAD and AAP on the backfoot,” a senior Congress leader said.

But several senior leaders said announcing Channi as the CM face was a “foregone conclusion”.

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“After talking so much about appointing a Dalit leader as Chief Minister…how can we now say that he is a night watchman. But we thought the decision would come closer to the elections so that there would be some time for (Navjot Singh) Sidhu to do something. But now, we hear the announcement could come in the next week itself,” another leader said.

On January 27, in a turnaround from the Congress’s repeated assertion of “collective leadership”, Rahul Gandhi had said that the party will go with a chief minister face in the polls.

Sources said the party wanted to field state Congress chief Sidhu also from two seats but the move could not materialise.

Earlier, the party wanted to field Channi from Adampur (SC) but it was felt then that he needed to be fielded from Barnala district. It was also believed that he will contest from Mehal Kalan. Finally, Bhadaur was chosen. “His candidature from Bhadaur will help us in several segments, including Dirba, Sunam, Malerkotla, Amargarh, Dhuri and Sangrur,” a state-level party leader said.

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Sources said the party was also considering fielding Channi from Jalalabad to mount pressure on Sukhbir Badal. “That was seen as the party’s measure to pay back to SAD for fielding Bikram Singh Majithia against Navjot Singh Sidhu. However, in the end, they decided that Channi would be more beneficial to take on AAP rather than the SAD leader,” sources said.

The party has now fielded Mohan Singh Phallianwala, a former MP from the SC community who had earlier been with AAP and BSP, in Jalalabad.

Besides Channi, the Congress has fielded former Mayor Vishnu Sharma against former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh from Patiala (Urban) while denying a ticket to AAP MLA from Bhadaur, Pirmal Singh Khalsa, who had switched over to the Congress.

The party has also dropped three MLAs in the third list: Tarsem DC from Attari, Angad Singh from Nawanshahar and Raminder Awla from Jalalabad. Awla opted out of the contest in Jalalabad.

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Angad Singh’s wife Aditi Singh, a legislator from UP’s Rae Bareli, had switched to BJP in November last year. She had also dared Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra to contest against her. Congress sources said Priyanka considered Aditi as her “younger sister” but was “betrayed”. “Hence the Congress decided to drop Angad, whom it had chosen in 2017 over Satinder Singh Saini Pallichikki, who has now been nominated,” sources said.

The party has also fielded Manish Bansal, son of former Union Minister Pawan Bansal from Barnala. Former MLA Kewal Singh Dhillon could not get the ticket despite support from Sidhu. Sitting MLA from Khemkaran, Sukhpal Bhullar, has been renominated despite opposition to his candidature due to unfavorable surveys. Ishwarjot Singh Cheema, a Ludhiana-based leader, has been nominated from Ludhiana South.

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

Manoj C.G

Manoj C G currently serves as the Chief of National Political Bureau at The Indian Express. A veteran journalist with a career spanning nearly two decades, he plays a pivotal role in shaping the publication's coverage of India's political landscape. Experience & Career: Manoj has built a robust career in political journalism, marked by a transition from wire service reporting to in-depth newspaper analysis. The Indian Express (2008 – Present): He joined the organization in 2008 and has risen to lead the National Political Bureau, overseeing key political coverage. Press Trust of India (PTI): Prior to his tenure at The Indian Express, Manoj worked with India’s premier news agency, PTI, honing his skills in breaking news and accurate reporting. Expertise & Focus Areas: As a seasoned political observer, Manoj focuses on the nuances of governance and party dynamics. National Politics: extensive reporting on the central government, parliamentary affairs, and national elections. Political Strategy: Deep analysis of party structures, coalition politics, and the shifting ideologies within the Indian political spectrum. Bureau Leadership: directing a team of reporters to cover the most critical developments in the nation's capital. Authoritativeness & Trust: Manoj’s authoritativeness is grounded in his nearly 20 years of field experience and his leadership role at a legacy newspaper. His long-standing association with The Indian Express underscores a reputation for consistency, editorial integrity, and rigorous reporting standards required of a Bureau Chief. Find all stories by Manoj C G here. ... Read More

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