BJP & Modi targeting Punjab’s first Dalit CM by plotting ED raids on Channi’s relatives: Verka
BJP and its allies are conspiring against us and threatening Dalits,” Verka said adding that Dalits are not afraid of anyone.
BJP and its allies are conspiring against us and threatening Dalits,” Verka said adding that Dalits are not afraid of anyone.
The BSP is in alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) in the state with the Parkash Singh Badal family at the helm. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala to a question responded, "we respect Mayawati as an elder and senior leader but request her to announce Dalit Chief Minister candidate in Punjab where it is in alliance with SAD."
Confirming the decision, Congress general secretary Harish Rawat said in a tweet, “It gives me immense pleasure to announce that Sh. #CharanjitSinghChanni has been unanimously elected as the Leader of the Congress Legislature Party of Punjab."
A Dalit face of the Congress, third-time MLA from Chamkaur Sahib constituency, Channi (58) is expected to help the Congress win support of the Dalits who make up an estimated 31.9 per cent of Punjab's overall population.
Siddaramaiah, time and again, raked up the issue of Dalit CM to drive home a point to highlight that ruling BJP was averse to Dalits, while in an equally sharp attack, Kateel slams Siddaramaiah, openly accusing him of conspiring against Dalits in Karnataka and preventing them from becoming CM in Karnataka.
In a major twist to the high-intensity battle for the new government in Karnataka, incumbent Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that he would welcome a Dalit as the CM of the state if the Congress took such a decision.