Former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi was seen in Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in Rajasthan last year. (Twitter/@CharanjitChanni)
The rumor comes amid fears of several power centers with former PCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu walking out of Patiala jail after bail.
Speculations are rife that former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party. Sources told News18 that he met some BJP leaders in Punjab even as the Congress tried to woo him.
The rumor comes amid fears of multiple power centers with the former PCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu Coming out of Patiala jail after bail. Channi had disappeared from the political limelight after the Congress’ defeat in the Punjab Assembly elections 2022, in which the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) won a massive mandate.
He also had to face protests after his arrest. Nephew in cases of corruption. However, the former CM re-entered state politics with a surprise visit to the village of slain Punjab singer Sidhu Moose Wala. He even caused a stir at the party by staying with his parents for the night.
Channi was also seen in Rajasthan during Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo tour after his return from foreign trip. He also met Priyanka Gandhi and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge. Many felt it was a well-thought-out move, sending a message to his detractors in the party that he was still relevant.
“You have to remember that the Congress wants to come back in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and Channi has sensed it. He may have faced defeat in the assembly polls, but his caste affiliation may still make him an aspirant for a ticket from a reserved seat,” a senior leader had told News18 In December.
Even on his return to Punjab, he chose to meet the Moose Wala family; a move that many believe was strategically favorable to him.
Channi’s ‘strategic’ move paying off?
The Congress is now trying to rope in the former chief minister for campaigning in the Jalandhar parliamentary bypoll. The party is also trying to disturb the peace between the leaders raising different voices.
according to a report in times of IndiaDuring his brief tenure as chief minister, Channi managed to garner a good support base in the Ravidasia/Adi-Dharmi community, which has a strong presence in the seat, and the Channi factor worked in some seats in the Doaba region. And contributed to the Congress. The party won five out of nine assembly constituencies in Jalandhar constituency.
The report further stated that Channi was also keen to contest from the seat and had made a few rounds of the Jalandhar constituency when the candidate was not finalised, but he confined himself to a few select meetings .
times of India The report quoted highly placed party sources as saying that efforts are on to persuade him to campaign in the constituency. It is also learned that leaders speaking in different voices are being asked to watch their words carefully ahead of the Jalandhar bypoll.
Meanwhile, party leaders are also keenly watching the next steps of Navjot Singh Sidhu, which will be announced after the meeting. Rahul Gandhi And Priyanka Gandhi met party president Mallikarjun Kharge and general secretary KC Venugopal in Delhi on Thursday.
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