High Drama Erupts at Punjab Congress Meeting
Dramatic scenes unfolded at a Punjab Congress meeting in Chandigarh on Saturday. MP and former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi launched a fiery tirade against his own party. He criticized the lack of representation for Dalit leaders in key positions compared to Jat Sikhs.
Channi's Explosive Criticism
The fireworks started right at the beginning of the meeting. Channi took the microphone and began speaking. According to a Congress leader present, he launched a scathing attack on the party. He accused it of not recognizing Dalit leaders while appointing the PCC president, Leader of Opposition, and NSUI chief. All these major posts are currently held by Jat Sikhs.
Channi complained that Dalit leaders face sidelining and ignorance in crucial appointments. He noted that with Assembly elections approaching, they are still expected to put in all the work. "Channi received full support from all the SC community workers present in the hall," said a supporter. "They raised slogans in his support."
Contentious Exchange and Mic Cut-Off
The former CM, who represents Jalandhar as MP, stressed that Dalit representation should match their population proportion in the state. This statement caused significant embarrassment. The PCC president had to step in hastily. He said these issues should be discussed at other forums.
To prevent further speaking, Channi's microphone was switched off. Another Congress leader present confirmed this detail but requested anonymity. "An embarrassed PCC president had no option," the leader stated.
War of Words with Party Colleagues
A heated exchange also occurred between Channi and former MLA Sukhwinder Singh Danny Bandala. Bandala challenged Channi's statements directly. He pointed out that the party made Channi the Leader of Opposition and chief minister. Now, Channi serves as a member of the Congress Working Committee.
Several other SC leaders from different sub-communities opposed Channi's comments too. They expressed disagreement with his approach during the meeting.
Background and Political Context
Channi has been positioning himself as the chief ministerial candidate for the 2027 Punjab Assembly polls. However, the party leadership shows little enthusiasm for this idea. AICC general secretary Bhupesh Baghel recently confirmed there would be no CM face in the upcoming elections.
The Congress attempted social engineering in its last government. Following Captain Amarinder Singh's removal in 2021, Channi became the first Dalit Sikh CM. This move aimed to consolidate the large Scheduled Caste vote, about 32% of Punjab's population, ahead of the 2022 elections.
Unfortunately, the strategy failed. Channi lost from both Assembly constituencies he contested. Punjab Congress remains largely dominated by Jat Sikhs, especially in rural strongholds. Decision-making on ticket distribution and rural strategy often reflects this dominance.
Since 2021, the party has made conscious efforts to reduce over-dependence on this group. It has increased outreach to Dalit, Hindu, and OBC communities. However, structural realities of Punjab politics persist. Land ownership, rural seats, and community mobilization keep Jat Sikhs as the most influential bloc within the state unit.
Any major shift away from this dominance risks alienating a crucial rural vote bank. The party already faces significant challenges, making such changes delicate and complex.
