The Aam Aadmi Party’s mantra – of “badlav”, or change – has rendered the political contest in Chamkaur Sahib unnerving for the Congress party. The historic town in Rupnagar district is the constituency of current chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, who was born here and has been its MLA here since 2007.
This time, the people of Chamkaur Sahib are not only electing an MLA but also a chief minister. But they’re not swinging definitively towards their local lad. As in every other town dotting the Punjabi landscape, unemployment and drug abuse are writ large here. Local issues like education and sand mining – in which Channi’s alleged involvement is often played up by his detractors – will also decide which way the vote goes.
Voters credit Channi with allocating umpteen resources to village panchayats and his cosmetic makeover to the town. But even his admirers root for change, and change here means the Aam Aadmi Party, whose chief ministerial candidate Bhagwant Mann holds plenty of appeal.
What are the voters’ views for and against Channi? Will the CM be able to protect his political fort? Watch.
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