Rahul Gandhi on Sunday declared Charanjit Channi as the party’s CM’s face for Punjab elections at a heavily-watched event in Ludhiana.
How Rahul Gandhi made a weighty delicate decision with dexterity
Ruling for Charanjit Channi as chief ministerial candidate’s face in Punjab was certainly not easy when Navjot Singh Sidhu was batting for the post. While today’s decision seemed quite expected as Congress, on its part, has made it known that a consultation exercise with party workers was undertaken before declaring the CM face and Channi was the preferred choice, situations became complicated with statements from Navjot Sidhu who said “Don’t treat me like a showpiece” and at the same time insisted he only sought the welfare of Punjab.
The cricketer-turned-politician started becoming increasingly critical of the government led by Mr. Channi, going to the extent of writing to Sonia Gandhi about his take on the government’s policies and asking her to give directions to the government.
First Dalit Chief Minister of Punjab
However, Channi had many favorable factors going strong for him such as being the first Dalit chief minister of Punjab where previously, Punjab politics was largely dominated by Jat-Sikhs. At the present time, there are around 32 percent Dalits who consist of a great section of the population. Elevating Channi to the position would rule in favor of Congress advocating for the Dalits.
Previous rival leaders were Jat Sikhs, except BJP. AAP leader Bhagwant Mann and Akali Dal’s Sukhbir Badal belong to the enterprising community. The BJP has Amarinder Singh, another Jat Sikh leader, as its tallest supporter. Sidhu also belongs to the community and hails from a prosperous background. In a refreshing turn of the road, Rahul Gandhi picked up Channi and accentuated Channi’s “gareeb aadmi” credentials “launching” a ‘humble CM’ Having ruled Punjab under Patiala royal Amarinder Singh, the Congress is now trying to get free from anti-incumbency by spotlighting on Channi’s humble roots. “He understands the issues related to poverty deeply,” Rahul Gandhi praised Channi as he made the announcement on Sunday.
He Was the Popular Choice
On a recent Punjab Opinion Poll 2022 conducted by Zee News and DesignBoxed based on the opinion of 1.2 million people, Charanjit Singh Channi of Congress exceeded the rest. Charanjit Channi’s energetic and spontaneous personality favored him. On a survey, Charanjit Singh Channi is liked by 31% people, AAP leader Bhagwant Mann 24%, Sukhbir Badal of SAD by 21%, Amarinder Singh of Punjab Lok Congress by 7%, Navjot Singh Sidhu of Congress by 5% and Arvind Kejriwal of AAP by 11%. Definitely, he is the preference of CM post in entire Punjab and Congress has to seize the momentum.
Charanjit Channi’s Humility and Down to Earth Outreach
Channi has a refreshing rustic charm, humble and down to earth, attracting the masses. Identifying with the youth, they set out on National Youth Day on a bicycle rally and he said, “Observed to mark the birth anniversary of a great philosopher, spiritual leader, and social activist Swami Vivekananda Ji, I reiterate the objective of the party to provide the youth of the state with skills and abilities, to ensure a bright future.”
Congress has been pushing to project Channi as someone who is from the streets and can blend into the masses naturally. The Congress has completely distanced itself from its former leader and chief minister Amarinder Singh now blaming him for many of the problems being faced by the state and presents Channi as a promising figure to bring a brighter future to the people in contrast to that of Amarinder Singh
Practical Hard Worker
He instantly set out to work for the people without wasting time. As soon as he assumed the chair of the chief minister, he set out on the fields to start working on the ground. Shooting out promises to the people of Punjab did not seem hollow words because he instantly set out to ensure work would be done and vows would be sealed by definite actions.
He tweeted, “To protect the future of the Youth of Punjab, #LokaanDiSarkar launched ‘Punjab Government Rozgar Guarantee for Youth Scheme 2022’, under which 100% guaranteed jobs in the private or government sector will be given to every youth of the State.”
“The first file signed by the Congress CM will be of 1,00,000 employment after forming the government again. Will provide free IELTS classes, Civil Services training, Armed Forces training, Skill Training to youth & also provide interest-free loans at competitive rates to them.”
He said, “Welfare of women and their empowerment has always remained the highest priority of the People’s Government. Anganwadi workers being the backbone of the administrative machinery of the state, #LokaanDiSarkar fulfilled their major pending demand.”
He tweeted, “People’s Govt. gave the approval to provide a one-time internet allowance of Rs. 2000/- to students studying in any higher educational institutions i.e. belonging to Technical education, Medical education, Higher education, or Colleges. This decision to benefit nearly 8.67 lakh students.”
“Accepting demands of over 53,000 Anganwadi workers, increased their monthly honorarium by Rs.1,400, Mini Anganwadi workers by Rs.1,000 & Anganwadi helpers by Rs.1,050. Also, hiked annual allowance of Anganwadi workers by Rs. 500 & Mini Anganwadi workers & helpers by Rs. 250 each.”
“To check the menace of stray cattle and ensure its upkeep in Gaushalas, People’s Government approved Rs.6.65 crore for clearing pending liabilities & running cost of 20 Govt. cattle pounds for 3 months. Also approved Rs. 5 lakhs per Gaushala for adding 50 stray cattle before March 31.”
His schemes and actions are marked out with definition and clarity paving a pathway in Punjab which would secure the future of the youth and build farmers’ lives, strengthen the middle classes, and open schemes for business people as well. All along the way, development measurements are being executed.
Model of Honesty
Speaking against corruption in his speech on Sunday, Channi said that he was coming down hard on sand mafia and others and a lot of people were now upset with him. He also referred to ED raids that have been carried out against one of his relatives.
After Channi became chief minister, the decisions and campaigns were largely carried out in his name. Despite Sidhu contending for the post himself, the party appeared to have firmly backed Channi in the last few weeks. It is even fielding Channi from two seats (Chamkaur Sahib and Bhadaur) for the February 20 polls, a move that had indicated Congress’s desire to pick the Dalit leader as its CM face.
The Congress Party Workers Backed Channi
Rahul Gandhi said, “I have been in politics since 2004… I have not learned as much as I have in the last six or seven years… it is not easy to groom a leader”
“Political leaders are not born in 10-15 days, leaders are not made by participating in television debates,” Congress’s Rahul Gandhi said today at a virtual rally in Ludhiana, minutes before announcing Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi as the party’s Chief Ministerial candidate.
Rahul Gandhi, however, made it clear that the decision was not his and said, “I have not decided about it. I asked this to Punjab’s people, youth, members of the working committee… I may have an opinion but your opinion is more important than mine… Punjabis told us that we need a person who can understand the poor,” Mr. Gandhi said.
Stressing that the party has its “system to develop leaders”, he gave his own example in what was seen as a message to Mr. Sidhu, who joined the party just ahead of the 2017 polls, after 13 years in the BJP.
In his address, he summed up the two candidates– Mr Sidhu and Mr Channi, remembering his meeting 40 years ago with the former at a cricket match in Doon School which he attended, and the little-known details about the latter.
“Channi is the son of a poor family. He knows poverty. Did you see any arrogance in him? He goes and meets people… Channi is the voice of the poor,” he said.
Drawing a distinction between Mr. Channi and the two biggest campaigners of the BJP, he said, “Modi ji is Prime Minster, Yogi jee is a Chief Minister. Have you seen the PM going and meeting people? Have you seen the PM helping anyone on the road? PM Modi is a raja (king), he won’t help anyone”.
He went on to say, As for Mr. Sidhu, “He is emotional. So what?”
Navjot Sidhu in his turn said that he has “already agreed with Rahul Gandhi’s decision” said, “Even if you don’t give me decision-making power, still I will support the next Chief Minister”.
Somehow, a very delicate decision was handled with great dexterity by Rahul Gandhi, and without hurting Sidhu, he was able to take in the weight of the decisions of the comprehensive Congress party in announcing Charanjit Channi as the party’s CM’s face for Punjab, preserving the peace of the party and keeping everyone happy with the decision.