News Analysis India

Tag: Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi

  • Congress may rope in strategist Prashant Kishor for Punjab Assembly polls, indicates CM Channi

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Political strategist Prashant Kishor may be roped in to develop the election campaign of the Congress for next year’s Assembly polls, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has indicated.

    Channi, Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu and the incharge of the state affairs at the AICC, Harish Chaudhary, held a meeting of party MLAs and other senior leaders here Tuesday evening to discuss the strategy for the elections.

    In a short video of the party meeting, Channi is heard saying that “Harish Chaudharyji was even advising to hire Prashant Kishor”.

    Channi was also seen discussing recent decision of his government to reduce power tariff and how it had received positive response from people.

    There is enthusiasm among people and the party workers, Channi said.

    “As per suggestions from you all, power tariff was reduced. We still have a couple of months (before code of conduct comes into effect in view of polls) and I will ensure that whatever you suggest will be done,” he said.

    Earlier this year, Kishor had resigned as former Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh’s principal adviser.

    Kishor is currently lobbying for the Trinamool Congress (TMC) for the upcoming Goa Assembly elections.

    Earlier, Kishor had crafted Amarinder Singh’s campaign in 2017 assembly polls.

    The Congress had stormed to power with an overwhelming majority in the 2017 polls in Punjab.

    Channi recently replaced Amarinder Singh as chief minister following the unceremonious exit of the veteran leader, who on Tuesday quit the Congress and announced the name of his own political outfit to contest the upcoming state polls.

  • ‘All is well’: Sidhu, Channi put up united face in Punjab Congress meeting

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and state Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu, who have not been on the same over certain appointments, Tuesday, November 2, 2021, said they will work with each other and fight the upcoming polls together, according to party MLAs.

    They met with each other during a meeting of party MLAs and other senior leaders Tuesday evening to discuss strategy for the elections.

    The meeting was held on a day former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh resigned from the Congress and announced the name of his own political party.

    ALSO READ: ‘Punjab Lok Congress’: Amarinder Singh reveals name of his new party after quitting Congress

    Senior Congress leader and Punjab affairs in-charge Harish Chaudhary was also present in the meeting where the party sought to show that there were no differences between Channi and Sidhu and the party will fight the polls unitedly.

    Sidhu and Channi had not been on the same page over certain appointments which led to unease between them.

    “All is well,” Sidhu told reporters after the meeting.

    A party MLA said Sidhu and Channi told the meeting they will work with each other and fight the upcoming elections together.

    Earlier in the day, Sidhu, Channi and Chaudhary went to Uttarakhand to offer prayers at the Himalaya shrine of Kedarnath.

    Congress MLA Navtej Singh Cheema said Channi and Sidhu shared their experiences about fighting elections.

    In the meeting, all the party leaders decided to fight the polls unitedly, said Cheema, adding that the meeting was held in a congenial atmosphere.

    Talking to reporters after the meeting, Chaudhary said Punjab voters have decided to give the Congress more seats than they gave on 2017.

    Chaudhary refused to make any comment when asked whether the party is worried over the possibility that some leaders may be poached by Amarinder Singh.

    A few days back, Amarinder Singh had claimed that many people from the Congress were in touch with him.

    To a question on Amarinder Singh’s resignation from the Congress, cabinet minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu said he should respect the party which gave a lot to him.

    According to Party MLA Kuldeep Vaid Sidhu told the meeting he would go to the constituency every in run up to the forthcoming assembly elections.

    Meanwhile, the Punjab MLAs and the ministers expressed gratitude to Channi for his “recent path breaking” decisions like slashing power tariff and the termination of power purchase pact.