THE ASIAN INDEPENDENT UK
Nawanshahr, June 2 (Jatinder Pal Singh Kaler)- Senior leader of the Congress Party Vicky Chaudhary Kathgarh while talking to reporters in Kathgarh today said that
The streets, neighborhoods, fields, tea sheds of Punjab – everywhere the same voice echoes, if the Congress declares Charanjit Singh Channi as the Chief Minister, then the government is sure to be formed. This voice is not of the Congress worker, but of the common voters and intelligent people. Of the voter who, even after giving Channi a chance for 111 days in 2022, still takes his name. The question is whether the Congress high command is listening to this voice or not?
Channi factor – something more than Dalit votes, Channi’s name is not just a Dalit card. Channi was the first Dalit Chief Minister for the 32% Dalit population of Punjab, this is a historical pride. But the bigger thing is that Channi proved himself to be our man in those 111 days. Plain speech, going among the people, quick decisions – people felt that this man listens to the heart of Punjab and not at the behest of Delhi. Even today, when a farmer, laborer, small shopkeeper talks, as soon as Channi’s name comes up, they say – he was their man. Equation of farmer organizations and left parties The biggest change in Punjab’s politics after 2022 is that farmer organizations and left parties are no longer silent spectators. They want to play a role in the elections. If Congress puts forward Channi’s name, then the other factions will be forced to think that Channi had tried to compete with the Center during the farmers’ movement. He is not labeled as an anti-farmer. He himself is a man connected to the ground, talks less and talks more about work. Even for the left faction, Channi is not an elite like Captain or Sukhpal Khaira, he is a grassroots leader. Therefore, Congress can hope for an unconventional alliance in Channi’s name.
What will happen if the name is not given?
This is where the game gets complicated. If Congress adopts the same old strategy again – after the elections, the legislature party will elect the leader – then the loss will be from three sides.
The Dalit voter will feel that you used us for votes, did not give us dignity.
The common voter will say that you do not have a face, so how can we be sure that the opposition parties will get an open field – Congress does not have a son from Punjab, it has a remote from Delhi.
Congress will not only lose the elections, but will go on the backfoot in Punjab for the next 10-15 years. A clear advice for the Congress high command: Punjab is no longer a lab for experiments. Here people vote by seeing the face, they read the manifesto later. Naming Channi is not a gamble, it is a matter of accepting reality. Remember – in 2022 you brought Channi late, and lost. If you delay again in 2027, history will not forgive you. Bringing Channi forward is a trump card for the Congress. If the trump card is not played, then the bet is going to be lost. And then it will take many years for the Congress to return to Punjab – it may take a generation. The voice is in the mouth of the people, now the Congress paper is yet to be stamped.
