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A Charanjit who defeated Channi
Incumbent chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi had successfully won the Chamkaur Sahib seat thrice from 2012 onwards
Dr Charanjit Singh, an ophthalmologist from Rupnagar, is making headlines, and for all the right reasons. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) candidate proved to be a giant killer in the 2022 assembly elections as he defeated incumbent chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi on his home turf, Chamkaur Sahib.
Channi had successfully won the Chamkaur Sahib seat thrice from 2012 onwards. Last time he defeated Dr Singh. In 2017, Channi had won the seat by defeating Dr Charanjit by 12,308 votes. However, voters of the segment appreciated the fact that the doctor has been in touch with them all these years.
During campaign, Dr Singh, an eye surgeon, hit the right chords with the voters. He took up the issue of illegal mining, ‘goonda’ tax and rampant “corruption” by Congress workers and various other issues of the area. Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal personally campaigned for him.
“Channi will lose from both seats as he has been exposed in illegal mining and other acts of omission of commission. He is misusing his post for business,” he has said.
“Earlier, even after losing the election, he remained in the area and organised free medical camps. He is popular in the area for his accessibility,” said Jagdish Kaur, a resident of Morinda.
“It’s the victory of the common man. I will strive hard to meet the expectations of voters and bring development in the area. The most important task is to check illegal mining and end corruption in the area,” he said.
Channi has called a cabinet meeting. He will tender his resignation on Friday.
