Charanjit Singh Channi
Charanjit Singh Channi
Born/Date of Birthday: 12 March 1963
Place of Birth: Chamkaur Sahib, Punjab, India
Nationality: Indian
Political party: Indian National Congress
Spouse(s): Dr. Kamaljit Kaur
Children: Rhythmjit Singh, Navjit Singh
Residence(s): Kharar, SAS Nagar, Mohali
Alma mater: Panjab University (B.A., L.L.B.) and IK Gujral Punjab Technical University (MBA)
Charanjit Singh Channi (born 1 March 1963) is an Indian politician and the former Chief Minister of Punjab. He is a member of the Indian National Congress. He was also Minister of Technical Education and Training in Second Amarinder Singh ministry and leader of the opposition in the Punjab Legislative Assembly.
Early life, education and personal life
Channi was born in the village of Makrauna Kalan, Punjab. He studied law at Panjab University and has an MBA from PTU Jalandhar. He belongs to the Dalit Sikh community. He is currently pursuing PhD from Panjab University Chandigarh in topic related to Indian National Congress with Professor Emanual Nahar as his guide.
He is married to Kamaljit Kaur and has two children.
Political career
Early political career
Channi was leader of opposition in the Punjab Legislative Assembly from 2015 to 2016.
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 as Chief Minister of Punjab after the latter's resignation. He is the first Dalit Sikh 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.
At the end of the legislative assembly term, Channi was appointed as the Chief Ministerial face of Indian National Congress for the 2022 Vidhaan Sabha elections.
He contested in the 2022 Punjab Legislative Assembly election from Chamkaur Sahib and Bhadaur legislative assembly constituencies, but lost both the seats to his opponents from the Aam Aadmi Party.