On February 7, Rahul Gandhi announced the incumbent chief minister (CM) in Punjab, Charanjit Singh Channi as the Indian National Congress’ CM face in the Punjab polls. The move was strategically calculated, eyeing the Dalit voters’ support that Channi brings along with him.
Channi is the only Dalit CM in the country, currently, and the Congress gas constantly been playing up his caste, hoping to gain from it in the current assembly elections. Punjab has the highest proportion of Dalits in the country.
But, the answer to whether the Channi being projected as the CM face would be enough to consolidate the heavily fragmented but decisive Dalit vote bank in Punjab, remains unclear. The announcement also put an end to the apprehensions of a Dalit voter as to whether Channi would be made the CM again.
Apart from the Dalit voter base, Channi’s CM face helped clear the confusion boiling in the political corridors of Punjab, owing to the constant infighting between CM Channi and Navjot Singh Sidhu, who had even resorted to resigning in protest earlier last year.
By bidding farewell to the age-old tradition of not declaring the CM face, the Congress has ended speculations around the ‘Sidhu or Channi?’ dilemma brewing within the party in Punjab.
The chief ministerial ambitions being harboured by Sidhu and Sunil Kumar Jakhar have also been laid to rest with this announcement. Channi’s CM face has prevented the opposition from using the “Punjab’s Congress has a shaky leadership” narrative to their advantage.
With the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) announcing Bhagwant Mann as its CM candidate, the Congress was compelled to announce a CM face to compete with the AAP, to further strengthen its chances of winning the election.
How Did Charanjit Singh Channi Fare As CM?
Channi was appointed as CM by the party high command on September 2021, after captain Amarinder Singh was removed over disagreements. He was the technical education minister in Singh’s cabinet and was responsible for organising job fairs, opening up new colleges and skilling centres.
A grassroots politician from a small village, who rose through the ranks after starting out as a student leader, Channi’s story resonated with the masses.
Within a short period of time, he was able to use his political acumen to prove his mettle as a CM, with his innovative schemes such as ‘Mera Ghar Mera Naam‘ (my house in my name), special loan waiver schemes etc. His initiatives, especially in the electricity and water sectors, have gained him immense popularity among the masses.
Channi’s rise to fame in his short stint as CM and his appeal among masses, is likely to help the Congress consolidate their Hindu and Sikh Dalit vote bank.
Who Will The Dalits In Punjab Vote For?
Which party will be able to swing the Dalit vote in its favour? This question is heavily speculated but nonetheless, projecting a Dalit face as the CM candidate in Punjab, is being seen as a masterstroke by the Congress party.
Considering how the Shiromani Akali Dal, one of the Congress’ strongest competition, has tied up with the Bahujan Samaj Party in an attempt to woo Dalits, the Congress’ decision to put forth a person from the mazhabi Sikh community was strategically thought out.
By appointing a Dalit Sikh as the chief minister, the Congress is hoping to make a dent in the Akalis’ Sikh Dalit vote bank. With an eye on the sizeable and decisive Dalit vote in the state, the AAP has also promised to appoint a Dalit as the deputy CM if voted to power.
With parties competing to mobilise Dalits, the Congress has certainly trumped its rivals by appointing a Dalit CM.
How have the Dalits in Punjab historically voted for? During the 2017 assembly elections, the Congress won 21 of the 34 constituencies reserved for scheduled castes (SC), but its votes share in these constituencies was lower than its average vote share.
In 2012, although the Congress vote share was equal in reserved and unreserved constituencies, it won only 10 out of 34 reserved seats.
CSDS surveys indicate that the Congress has successfully mobilised both Hindu and Sikh Dalit votes in the past. Studies also suggest that the Congress is more popular among Hindu Dalits than the Akalis are.
The entry of the AAP, coupled with the fact that the Bharatiya Janta Party is contesting in a tie-up with captain Singh, may potentially impact the Congress Hindu vote bank to an extent, but having a Dalit CM might help the party mitigate this impact and keep its Hindu Dalit vote intact.
Picking Channi as the CM face will help mobilise the crucial Dalit vote bank in favour of the Congress to an extent. But, will that be just enough for the Congress to win the election? This can only be answered on March 10, when the election results will be out.