Know your CM- a highly qualified, sportsperson and firm believer in astrology
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in
Newly elected CLP leader and upcoming Punjab’s 27th Chief Minister Charanajit Singh Channi, a Dalit (Ramdasia) Sikh leader was born on April 2, 1972, in village Makrona Kalan near Chamkaur Sahib. Charanjit received his primary education from a Govt. Primary School. Charanjit Singh Channi was born to a poor family to father Harsa Singh and mother Ajmer Kaur.
His father had to struggle a lot to bring his family to the level of economic security for which he had to migrate to Malaysia. He worked hard and ultimately success embraced him and his family. He returned and settled in Kharar town starting a business of a Tent House where Channi also played as a Tent boy. His father was a very generous man even in his business dealings.
After moving to Kharar with his family, Charanjit Singh Channi, then went on to complete his matriculation from Khalsa Higher Secondary School in Kharar, where he received free education, thanks to his gifted talent in the sports. He has been a great handball player who has many awards under his belt. He has also represented Panjab University three times in Handball and received Gold Medal in the Inter University Sports Meet. He also continued playing Handball at the National level. Charanjit Singh Channi also actively participated in NCC, NSS, Cultural Activity and debate competitions throughout his academics.
Since his father Harsa Singh has been Sarpanch of the Gram Panchayat of his village and later on a member of Block Samiti, Charanjit Singh Channi found the political grooming at home. He started participating in political activities since his school days and was also elected President of the School Student Union. After his secondary education, he joined Sri Guru Gobind Singh College at Chandigarh for his higher education. After graduating there from, he joined Panjab University Chandigarh and successfully got his degree in Law. He later pursued his Master’s in Business Administration from PTU Jalandhar and currently finishing his PhD from the Panjab University Chandigarh.
As for his political journey he remained Municipal Councilor for three terms and moved on to become the President of Municipal Council Kharar for two terms.
His political journey accelerated when he contested the 2007 assembly polls from the Chamkaur Sahib constituency as a Congress rebel and won as Independent. In 2012, he joined the Congress and won the seat. In 2016, he was made the leader of opposition in Punjab assembly against the wishes of Captain Amarinder Singh-led camp. He draws his strength from the Congress high command and hardly has any sympathiser among his cabinet colleagues. Again in 2017, he won on congress ticket from Chamkaur Sahib constituency and made Cabinet Minister, Technical Education & Industrial Training, Employment Generation and also Science and Technology, in the Capt Amarinder Singh led government.
Despite being a member of Amarinder cabinet, Channi has often criticised the style of functioning of the government on various issues. He has been an open critic of the government on the issues concerning the Dalits and has accused the government of neglecting the community in the appointments made in the office of advocate general. In a cabinet meetings Channi criticised the government on Bargari issue.
A firm believer in astrology Channi do various things for his political gains. Like few days after he was inducted into the state cabinet in 2017, on the advice of an astrologer to have east facing entry to his house he illegally constructed a road from a park outside his official residence in Sector 2, Chandigarh. Acting on the complaints, the road was razed by the Chandigarh administration. Once he rode an elephant in the lawns of his house in Kharar. His picture went viral and left many amused.
September 19,2021
