BATHINDA: Punjab chief minister
Charanjit Singh Channi will be contesting from two seats for February 20 assembly elections in the state.
CM Channi will contest from
Bhadaur assembly segment
in district Barnala apart from his traditional seat of Chamkaur Sahib. Earlier in 2017,
Captain Amarinder Singh had contested from Lambi assembly segment against then sitting chief minister Parkash Singh Badal apart from his traditional seat of Patiala Urban.
Detailed coverageBhadaur is rural seat with SC population of over 35 per cent. Singer turned politician and presently MP
Mohammad Sadique
had won from Bhadaur in 2012 after defeating mighty bureaucrat Darbara Singh Guru. In 2017, Aam Aadmi Party’ Pirmal Singh had won from Bhadaur, few months ago he joined Congress and was demanding party ticket.
Sadique too was staking claim to ticket for his daughter.
In 2017, Congress had lost all three seats in district Barnala and it is being said that the party has taken a calculated move by fielding Channi hoping his entry may give advantage to the party in the district.
Apart from him, former Union railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal’s son Manish Bansal has been given ticket from Barnala. He has been fielded with an eye to the Hindu voters as former MLA Kewal Singh Dhillon lost in 2017 and then 2019 Parliamentary elections.
The entry of Channi in Barnala will enhance the chances of Congress in the district and adjoining seats where AAP has been gaining strong foothold.
Channi will prove a turning point in getting major part of SC votes. Now his chance of getting to be the chief ministerial face too has brightened. This too may be projected as advantage for Barnala area, say political analysts.