Who Is Charanjit Singh Channi? Punjab’s First Dalit Chief Minister Set To Take Oath On Monday

Channi, a three-time MLA from the Chamkaur Sahib Assembly constituency, will replace Captain Amarinder Singh.

Charanjit Singh Channi (File Photo)

Chandigarh: The Congress after hectic deliberations on Sunday finally picked its Dalit face Charanjit Singh Channi as the next chief minister of Punjab.

Channi, a three-time MLA from the Chamkaur Sahib Assembly constituency, will replace Captain Amarinder Singh.

He was earlier in the day unanimously elected as the Leader of the Congress Legislature Party of Punjab.

“It gives me immense pleasure to announce that Sh. #CharanjitSinghChanni has been unanimously elected as the Leader of the Congress Legislature Party of Punjab. @INCIndia @RahulGandhi @INCPunjab,” All India Congress Committee (AICC) Punjab in-charge Harish Rawat tweeted.

Channi met Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit at the Raj Bhavan in Chandigarh after being appointed the new chief minister. He will be sworn-in at 11 a.m. on Monday.

“We have presented our stance, unanimously supported by party MLAs, before the Governor. Oath taking ceremony to take place at 11 am tomorrow,” he told the media after meeting the Governor, ANI reported.

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Channi is the first schedule caste chief minister declared by the Congress high command.

The move to appoint Channi, who belongs to the Ramdasia Sikh (Chamar) community, the next chief minister assumes significance as the assembly elections will be held in Punjab next year.

Channi was appointed the minister in Captain Amarinder Singh’s cabinet earlier on March 16, 2017.

The 48-year-old was earlier the Minister of Technical Educational and Industrial Training in the Punjab government.

He was among the leaders in the Congress’ Punjab unit who had raised voices against Captain Amarinder Singh.

Channi was earlier the leader of opposition in the Punjab Assembly from 2015 to 2016.

Reports earlier suggested that Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa could be the next chief minister of Punjab with several MLAs backing him for the top post.

Captain Amarinder Singh tendered his resignation as the chief minister earlier on Saturday following months of infighting between him and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Navjot Singh Sidhu.