Phillaur: On MLA Vikramjit’s ground, Charanjit Singh Channi demonstrates his might

After more than two weeks of campaigning as the Jalandhar Congress candidate, former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi finally demonstrated his strength on Thursday by conducting rallies in Phillaur. Congress MLA Vikramjit Chaudhary, who was recently suspended by the party for making repeated remarks critical of Channi, represents the segment.

In the Phillaur sector, Goraya and Phillaur towns are home to two rallies that Channi organized. During the rallies, Channi began his address by paying tribute to the Chaudhary brothers: Vikramjit’s father, Chaudhary Santokh Singh, a two-time MP from Jalandhar, and former minister Chaudhary Jagjit Singh.

“I grew up following Chaudhary Jagjit Singh’s political career. Being a composed, modest party leader, Chaudhary Santokh Singh was always someone I held in great regard, the former minister Amarjit S. Samra and Shahkot MLA Hardev S. Laddi Sherowalia remarked.

Then he launched his nuanced assault. “My last visit here was for the Jalandhar local by-election in 2023, when I was organizing protests in favor of Karamjeet Chaudhary, Vikramjit’s mother, who had joined the BJP.” While some individuals have changed with the seasons, you all remain anchored. I know that many of you came here despite being asked to skip the event over and over again via phone calls. I am very grateful that you still made the decision to remain with me.

A few female Chaudhary family followers confronted Channi outside the Phillaur event site while waving black flags. Later on in the section, Channi also set up shop in Apra town.

Navjit Singh, the son of Channi, had been sleeping in the region and interacting with people who were looking for support for his father prior to his visit to Phillaur today. He is being forced to do the duties of a halqa in-charge here. The manner in which he is traveling around and taking center stage is not to the satisfaction of many Congress leaders. Some of them are already uneasy because they think Channi is going to use his son’s position to advance him as the party’s potential candidate for an Assembly seat. This action might seriously hurt Channi in these elections, they said.

Additionally, there has been talk that Sarwan Singh Phillaur, an ex-Akali minister from the region, may join the Congress. In the 2023 Lok Sabha by-election, Congress was defeated by the AAP with 7,000 votes from the Phillaur segment, and the Chaudhary family did not get the anticipated sympathy vote. Much hinges on the significant BSP voter base in this area, which may or may not be Congress-leaning.