Day after defeat, Channi steps down as Punjab CM, guv dissolves assembly

Outgoing chief minister Channi hopes Bhagwant Mann-led Aam Aadmi Party government will continue with welfare measures, including power, fuel and sand rate cuts

Chandigarh: A day after the Congress faced a humiliating defeat to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Punjab assembly elections, chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi submitted his resignation to governor Banwarilal Purohit in Chandigarh on Friday.

A day after the Congress faced a humiliating defeat to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in the Punjab assembly elections, chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi submitted his resignation to governor Banwarilal Purohit in Chandigarh on Friday.

The Congress was routed in the polls with the AAP winning 92 seats in the 117-member assembly, leaving it with only 18. Channi suffered a double blow as he lost the election to AAP candidates in both the Chamkaur Sahib and Bhadaur constituencies that he contested.

Earlier, Channi chaired a virtual cabinet meeting at his official residence in the morning and recommended the governor to dissolve the 15th Punjab Vidhan Sabha.

A spokesperson of the chief minister’s office said that the governor is authorised to dissolve the state legislature as per sub-clause (b) of clause (2) of Article 174 of the Constitution. This move being a constitutional necessity would now pave the way for the formation of the 16th Punjab Vidhan Sabha.

At the end of the meeting, the chief minister thanked his cabinet colleagues, officers and people for overall development and maintaining peace in the state during the tenure of his government. The governor later dissolved the assembly with immediate effect, according to an official spokesperson.

Channi congratulated the incoming Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government and hoped that it would continue with the decisions taken in public interest by his government, including the reduction of electricity rates, slashing VAT on oil, besides decreasing rates of sand and gravel.