DNA Exclusive: Not an Accidental CM, Never Asked For Chief Ministerial Post, Says Channi

With Punjab Assembly Polls round the corner, Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Tuesday spoke to Zee News Editor-in-Chief on array of topics.

Written by: India.com News Desk Edited by: Victor Dasgupta

Updated: January 5, 2022, 9:38 AM IST

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Charanjit Singh Channi

New Delhi: With Punjab Assembly Polls round the corner, Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Tuesday spoke to Zee News Editor-in-Chief on array of topics. During his 45-minute interview, Chief Minister Channi listed a slew of measures undertaken by his government for the development of Punjab. Speaking on his appointment as Punjab Chief Minister in the end days of Congress rule in the state, Charanjit Singh Channi said that he has played a “smashing knock in the two overs of this Twenty-twenty match.”

In an exclusive conversation with Zee News Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary, the Punjab chief minister said that he is trying hard to be an “accessable head of state who works hard for the people”. “I am setting a trend where people are able to meet the Chief Minister anytime,” he said, adding: “People are not for chief minister, chief minister is for the people.”

Here are few key takeaways from the interview:

• Punjab Chief Minister Chranjit Singh Channi denied the notion that Sidhu’s recent acts were detrimental to the party, he said: “No, there was no loss to the party. I work with my own attitude. I care for people.”
• On a question on Sidhu’s ambitions to become the Chief Minister, Channi said that everyone is “free to watch dreams”. He further said that it serves no purpose to speculate on the probables for the top post.
• On appointment as CM at the end of Congress’ 5-year rule, Charanjit Singh Channi said that though he was allowed to work for a short tenure, he has played a “blistering knock in the last two overs of this Twenty-twenty match.”
• Talking about his government, Channi said that he is trying hard to be an “accessible head of state who works hard for the people”.
• “I am setting a trend where people are able to meet the Chief Minister anytime,” Channi said.
• “People are not for chief minister, chief minister is for the people.”
• There used to be times when people of Punjab used to like Captain Amarinder Singh, but now things have changedd

The interview comes at a time when the Congress is schedule to hold the first meeting of its screening committee for the state. Top Congress leaders of the state will attend the panel’s meeting which will be chaired by AICC general secretary Ajay Maken. The panel will screen the candidates for the upcoming Punjab assembly polls and recommend names to the Congress’ central election committee, which is chaired by party chief Sonia Gandhi.

WATCH FULL INTERVIEW HERE