The outcomes of final month’s native authorities elections in Punjab triggered a well-recognized political debate over the affect of star campaigners within the polls. Among the many activists who created ripples within the rural polls had been Congress chief and former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, MP from Jalandhar.
Mr. Channi, 62, saved his give attention to two most important belts throughout his election marketing campaign – the erstwhile Lok Sabha constituency Chamkaur Sahib in Rupnagar district and the present Jalandhar constituency.
In Chamkaur Sahib, the place Channi represented thrice as MLA, the Congress received all 15 panchayat samiti (PS) seats and each zilla parishad (ZP) seats by a landslide. Throughout Rupnagar, the Congress secured 50 out of 93 PS seats and 5 out of 10 ZP seats.
In Jalandhar, the ruling Aam Aadmi Social gathering (AAP) emerged as the most important get together by profitable 78 out of 188 PS seats and 10 out of 21 ZP seats, however the Congress narrowly caught up with 61 PS seats and seven ZP seats. Total, AAP received the state-wide polls by a landslide.
Regardless of diversifying his social media presence in latest months, Chani nonetheless stands out on the sphere. His supporters have produced a slew of reels showcasing his political actions, lots of that are viral traces from latest songs by Punjabi singer Nirveil Singh Pannu.For some time, the federal government and Channidhi (The Channi authorities shook issues up lots in a brief time period)” – a reference to his six-month stint as CM in 2021-2022.
Furthering his social media presence is a viral rap music that tasks him as a future industrial by proclaiming:Es vaar Channi sarkar… Bordi rakane har ghari har nation… Far toh banan chani saab mukhyamantri (This time it’s the Channi authorities, he’s the speak of each metropolis and nation, Channi would be the CM once more).”
speak to indian categoricalChani stated, “I additionally listened to the songs of those two singers. I do not know them personally, however they talked about me. These are natural songs, songs from their facet, not mine. Nowhere does it say that I’m the face of the industrial. I’m busy working within the area like an actual lawmaker.”
Concerning the numerous social media movies masking his political actions utilizing such songs, Chani has said, “I’ve no intention of cashing in on such songs. It is the love of the general public.”
In recent times, the Jalandhar MP has been continuously within the headlines for causes aside from electoral arithmetic. Channi continued to make public appearances, from dancing to Bhangra beats with singer Ranjit Bawa to working with farmers to plug the Dusi Bund through the 2025 Punjab floods.
Carrying his signature white kurta pajama and pastel colour mixture slowly (scarf), Chani is visiting the villages of Rupnagar and Jalandhar. A lot of this exercise is documented on his YouTube channel by means of episodes corresponding to ‘Channi Karda Masle Hal (Channi Solves Issues)’ and ‘Ghar Ghar Channi’.
‘Ghar Ghar Channi’ depicts Chamkaur Sahib’s conferences with anganwadi employees, ASHA activists, noon meal cooks and MGNREGA employees in villages corresponding to Papurari, Kakrali, Dehar and Mundian. In these interactions, Mr. Channi recalled the choices taken by the federal government between September 2021 and March 2022, together with hike in ex-gratia for Anganwadi and noon meal employees and clearing of pending dues to ASHA activists.
‘Channi Karda Masle Hal’ sees him visiting websites the place tasks began through the earlier Congress authorities stay incomplete. He has repeatedly highlighted that the development of Chamkaur Sahib Abilities Faculty, which price Rs 150 million between 2017 and 2022, has stalled. It additionally warned in opposition to unfinished authorities faculties and challenged the AAP authorities’s claims of bringing about an “training revolution”.
Throughout parliamentary classes, his interventions within the Home of Commons usually drew smiles from the Treasury benches. He was additionally awarded the celebrated Sansad Ratna award final yr together with 17 different MPs.
Chani’s rising function has additionally caught the attention of his opponents in Punjab. “We’ve been advised to carefully monitor his social media presence and the best way he reaches out to the general public,” a senior Bharatiya Janata Social gathering official stated.
Because the Congress debates over the CM face for the state meeting polls scheduled for early 2027, the state get together wing is beset by infighting and factionalism with a number of distinguished candidates vying for the highest submit.
BJP state spokesperson Pritpal Singh Bariawal stated, “Whereas Mr. Channi is the frontrunner within the Punjab Meeting CM race, his absence from many parliamentary packages is a sign of the get together’s unity…Samra In Ra constituency, Channi and (former state minister) Bharat Bhushan Ashu went lacking throughout a rally held by the Congress on Friday in opposition to the G-RAM-G Act (the regulation changing MGNREGA),” he stated.
“None of us desires to change into the CM. We wish a Congress authorities within the state… There’s a widespread phrase that there are lots of faces of the CM… There isn’t a such collectivism… We’re following the orders of (Congress president) Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and (AICC Punjab state chief),” stated Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Gurdaspur MP and former CM vice chairman of the Congress, on the Samrala rally. Bhupesh Baghel Ji…Congress is united. ”
Channi, a CWC member, began his political profession within the Karar Municipal Council, first as a councilor after which as chairman in 2002. He stunned many by profitable the Chamkaur Sahib Meeting seat as an unbiased in 2007 and later joined the Congress. He received the seat once more in 2012 and 2017, served as Chief of Opposition within the Meeting from 2015-2016, and served as Technical Training Minister underneath then CM Captain Amarinder Singh from 2017-2021 earlier than changing into Punjab’s first Dalit CM in September 2021.
“His 111-day tenure is remembered for choices corresponding to decreasing energy tariffs within the nation, introducing a month-to-month gratuity of Rs 2,500 for anganwadi employees and asserting a compensation of Rs 17,000 per acre for cotton farmers affected by pink leafhopper,” stated Sukhjinder Singh Rajan, a farmer from Abohar in Fazilka district.
The debacle within the 2022 meeting elections (Channi himself misplaced from Chamkaur Sahib and Badar seats) was a giant blow to him, however he bounced again within the 2024 meeting elections by profitable the Jalandhar seat by a margin of over 175,000 votes. After final month’s municipal elections, even CM Bhagwant Mann talked about Channi whereas congratulating the winners.
