Charanjit Singh Channi
(born 15 March 1963) is an Indian politician who served as the 16th
Chief Minister
A chief minister is an elected or appointed head of government of – in most instances – a sub-national entity, for instance an administrative subdivision or federal constituent entity. Examples include a state (and sometimes a union ter ...
of
Punjab
Punjab (; ; also romanised as Panjāb or Panj-Āb) is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia. It is located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising areas of modern-day eastern Pakistan and no ...
. He is a member of the
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party, or simply the Congress, is a political parties in India, political party in India with deep roots in most regions of India. Founded on 28 December 1885, it was the first mo ...
.
He is serving as a
Member of the Lok Sabha
A Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha (abbreviated: MP) is the representative of a legislative constituency in the Lok Sabha; the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of parliament of Lok Sabha are chosen by direct elections on ...
from
Jalandhar Lok Sabha constituency
Jalandhar Lok Sabha constituency (formerly known as Jullundur Lok Sabha constituency) is one of the 13 Lok Sabha constituencies in Punjab state in northern India.
Assembly segments
Presently, after delimitation, this constituency comprises th ...
since 4 June 2024. He was also Minister of Technical Education and Training in
Second Amarinder Singh ministry and
leader of the opposition
The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the Opposition (parliamentary), largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the ...
in the
Punjab Legislative Assembly
The Punjab Legislative Assembly or the Punjab Vidhan Sabha is the unicameral legislature of the state of Punjab (India), Punjab in India. The Sixteenth Punjab Legislative Assembly was constituted in March 2022. At present, it consists of 117 M ...
.
Early life and education
Channi was born in the village of Makrauna Kalan,
Punjab
Punjab (; ; also romanised as Panjāb or Panj-Āb) is a geopolitical, cultural, and historical region in South Asia. It is located in the northwestern part of the Indian subcontinent, comprising areas of modern-day eastern Pakistan and no ...
.
He studied law at
Panjab University
Panjab University (PU) is an Indian collegiate public state university located in Chandigarh. Funded through both State and Union governments, it is considered a state university. It traces its origins to the University of the Punjab in Lahor ...
and has an
MBA
A Master of Business Administration (MBA) is a professional degree focused on business administration. The core courses in an MBA program cover various areas of business administration; elective courses may allow further study in a particular a ...
from
PTU Jalandhar
I. K. Gujral Punjab Technical University (IKGPTU), formerly Punjab Technical University (PTU), is a public state university in Kapurthala, Punjab, India established by an Act of State Legislature on 16 January 1997.
Renaming
In recognition o ...
.
He was awarded
PhD
A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, DPhil; or ) is a terminal degree that usually denotes the highest level of academic achievement in a given discipline and is awarded following a course of graduate study and original research. The name of the deg ...
in the 70th convocation of
Panjab University
Panjab University (PU) is an Indian collegiate public state university located in Chandigarh. Funded through both State and Union governments, it is considered a state university. It traces its origins to the University of the Punjab in Lahor ...
(PU) by
Vice Chancellor
A vice-chancellor (commonly called a VC) serves as the chief executive of a university in the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, Nepal, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Kenya, other Commonwealth countr ...
Renu Vig in
political science
Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and Power (social and political), power, and the analysis of political activities, political philosophy, political thought, polit ...
in topic related to
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress (INC), colloquially the Congress Party, or simply the Congress, is a political parties in India, political party in India with deep roots in most regions of India. Founded on 28 December 1885, it was the first mo ...
with Professor Emanual Nahar as his guide. Now he is
PhD
A Doctor of Philosophy (PhD, DPhil; or ) is a terminal degree that usually denotes the highest level of academic achievement in a given discipline and is awarded following a course of graduate study and original research. The name of the deg ...
Holder in
Political Science
Political science is the scientific study of politics. It is a social science dealing with systems of governance and Power (social and political), power, and the analysis of political activities, political philosophy, political thought, polit ...
. He belongs to the
Dalit
Dalit ( from meaning "broken/scattered") is a term used for untouchables and outcasts, who represented the lowest stratum of the castes in the Indian subcontinent. They are also called Harijans. Dalits were excluded from the fourfold var ...
Sikh
Sikhs (singular Sikh: or ; , ) are an ethnoreligious group who adhere to Sikhism, a religion that originated in the late 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, based on the revelation of Guru Nanak. The term ''Si ...
Community.
Early political career
Kharar municipal council
Channi started his political career as a municipal councillor from a ward in
Kharar and was elected as the president of the Kharar municipal council in 2002.
Leader of opposition
Channi was
leader of opposition
The Leader of the Opposition is a title traditionally held by the leader of the largest political party not in government, typical in countries utilizing the parliamentary system form of government. The leader of the opposition is typically se ...
in the
Punjab Legislative Assembly
The Punjab Legislative Assembly or the Punjab Vidhan Sabha is the unicameral legislature of the state of Punjab (India), Punjab in India. The Sixteenth Punjab Legislative Assembly was constituted in March 2022. At present, it consists of 117 M ...
from 2015 to 2016.
Cabinet minister
He was Minister of Technical Education and Training in
Second Amarinder Singh ministry.
Chief Minister of Punjab
In September 2021, he succeeded Captain
Amarinder Singh
Amarinder Singh (born 11 March 1942) is an Indian politician, military historian, former royal and Indian Army veteran who served as the 15th Chief Minister of Punjab. His father, Yadavindra Singh, was the last Maharaja of the princely st ...
as
Chief Minister of Punjab after the latter's
resignation
Resignation is the formal act of relinquishing or vacating one's office or position. A resignation can occur when a person holding a position gained by election or appointment steps down, but leaving a position upon the expiration of a term, or ...
.
He is the first
Dalit
Dalit ( from meaning "broken/scattered") is a term used for untouchables and outcasts, who represented the lowest stratum of the castes in the Indian subcontinent. They are also called Harijans. Dalits were excluded from the fourfold var ...
Sikh
Sikhs (singular Sikh: or ; , ) are an ethnoreligious group who adhere to Sikhism, a religion that originated in the late 15th century in the Punjab region of the Indian subcontinent, based on the revelation of Guru Nanak. The term ''Si ...
Chief Minister of Punjab. Commentators suggested that Punjab's large Dalit population and attempts by other parties to appeal to it may have influenced Congress's choice of Channi as Singh's successor.
On 26 September fifteen new ministers were sworn in; several ministers from the
Second Amarinder Singh ministry were retained.
Soon after taking office, Channi made several policy announcements. On 21 September he promised action concerning a
sacrilege case and said that the electricity bills of water works schemes would be waived and connections would be restored. On 23 September he stated "Class D" government jobs would be regularised; they were previously outsourced. In November 2021, Channi inaugurated his dream project ''Dastaan-e-Shahadat theme park'' at
Chamkaur Sahib.
On 24 December 2021, Channi approved setting up Punjab State Commission for General Category. Congress leader Navjot Dahiya was appointed its first chairman. On 30 December 2021, Channi started free bus travel for students.
5 January 2022 episode
On 5 January 2022, in
Firozpur district
Firozpur district, also known as Ferozepur district, is one of the twenty-three districts in the state of Punjab, India. Firozpur district comprises an area of .
Firozpur (Ferozepur) is the capital city of the district. It is situated inside t ...
PM
Narendra Modi
Narendra Damodardas Modi (born 17 September 1950) is an Indian politician who has served as the Prime Minister of India, prime minister of India since 2014. Modi was the chief minister of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014 and is the Member of Par ...
's cavalcade was stranded for 15–20 minutes on flyover as protesting farmers blocked the Moga-Firozpur highway near Piarenana village far away while he was en route to
Hussainiwala National Martyrs Memorial
Hussainiwala National Martyrs Memorial () in memory of the Indian freedom fighters Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar and Shivaram Rajguru, is at Hussainiwala village, near Firozpur city in Firozpur district of the Punjab, India. A daily ''flag loweri ...
. Criticized by
Bharatiya Janata Party
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP; , ) is a political party in India and one of the two major List of political parties in India, Indian political parties alongside the Indian National Congress. BJP emerged out from Syama Prasad Mukherjee's ...
, Channi denied any security lapse and stated he will recite
Mahāmrityunjaya Mantra
The ''Mahamrityunjaya Mantra'' (), also known as the ''Rudra Mantra'' or ''Tryambakam Mantra'', is a verse (''ṛc'') of the ''Rigveda'' (RV 7.59.12). The ''ṛc'' is addressed to Tryambaka, "The Three-eyed One", an epithet of Rudra who is iden ...
for PM's safety. In February 2022, Channi alleged that Modi has taken revenge by denying permission for his helicopter to fly from Chandigarh.
2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election
At the end of the legislative assembly term, Channi was appointed the Chief Ministerial candidate of Congress for the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections.
Navjot Singh Sidhu
Navjot Singh Sidhu (born 20 October 1963) is an Indian former cricketer, television personality and politician from the Indian National Congress. He is the former President of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. Formerly, he was the Minister of ...
was the other contender expecting to be the CM candidate.
The official campaign was named ''Sada Channi, Sada CM'' (Our Channi, Our CM). Official campaign song ''Channi Karda Masle Hal'' by singer Surmandeep Mansa was launched in February 2022.
He contested the
2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election
Legislative Assembly elections were held in Elections in Punjab, India, Punjab on 2022 elections in India, 20 February 2022 to elect the List of constituencies of the Punjab Legislative Assembly, 117 members of the Sixteenth Punjab Legislative ...
from
Chamkaur Sahib and
Bhadaur
Bhadaur is a town in Barnala district in the state of Punjab, India. It is part of the Bhadaur Assembly Constituency.
History
Bhadaur was an independent princely state till 1857, then it was brought under subordination of Patiala by British ...
legislative assembly constituencies, but lost both the seats to his opponents from the
Aam Aadmi Party
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP, ) is a List of political parties in India, political party in India. It was founded on 26 November 2012 by Arvind Kejriwal and his then-companions, following the 2011 Indian anti-corruption movement against then gover ...
.
On 11 March 2022, Channi submitted his resignation to Governor. On 21 March 2022, he met and congratulated his successor
Bhagwant Mann
Bhagwant Singh Mann (born 17 October 1973), better known by his stage name "Jugnu", is an Indian politician, social worker, former comedian, singer and actor who is currently serving as the 17th Chief Minister of Punjab since 2022. He represen ...
.
Electoral performance
2024 Indian general election: Jalandhar
Source:
Assembly elections from Chamkaur Sahib
Assembly election from Bhadaur
In
2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election
Legislative Assembly elections were held in Elections in Punjab, India, Punjab on 2022 elections in India, 20 February 2022 to elect the List of constituencies of the Punjab Legislative Assembly, 117 members of the Sixteenth Punjab Legislative ...
Channi was defeated by
Labh Singh Ugoke
Labh Singh Ugoke is an Indian politician and the MLA in the Punjab Legislative Assembly representing the Bhadaur Assembly constituency in Punjab, India, since 2022. Prior to entering politics, he owned a mobile repair shop in his village. He i ...
.
Personal life and image
Channi is married to Kamaljit Kaur and has two children. He rode an elephant in the lawns of his house in Kharar.
See also
*
List of chief ministers of Punjab
*
Sushilkumar Shinde
Sushilkumar Sambhaji Shinde (born 4 September 1941) is an Indian former police officer and statesman from the state of Maharashtra. He was the Minister of Home Affairs, Minister of Power in the Manmohan Singh government, and the Leader of the ...
*
Jitan Ram Manjhi
Jitan Ram Manjhi (born 6 October 1944) is an Indian politician, serving as the Minister of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises since 2024. He is currently a Member of Parliament from Gaya constituency and was Bihar's 23rd Chief Minister from ...
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:Channi, Charanjit Singh
Living people
1963 births
Chief ministers of Punjab, India
Chief ministers from Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress politicians from Punjab, India
People from Rupnagar district
People from Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar district
Punjab, India MLAs 2012–2017
Punjab, India MLAs 2017–2022
India MPs 2024–2029
Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance candidates in 2024 Indian general election
Lok Sabha members from Punjab, India
Leaders of the opposition in Punjab, India
Punjab, India MLAs 2007–2012