Chandigarh, Sep 20 ,2021: Charanjit Singh Channi was sworn in as the 16th Chief Minister of Punjab on Monday, becoming the first Dalit chief minister of the state, months ahead of the next assembly polls.
Governor Banwarilal Purohit administered oath to Channi, along with Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Om Prakash Soni, who will be his deputies.
Channi was picked as the chief minister of Punjab months ahead of the assembly polls, after miffed Captain Amarinder Singh resigned following months of power tussle between him and state party chief Navjot Singh Sidhu.
Channi, 58, is a three-time MLA from Rupnagar’s Chamkaur Sahib and will be the first Dalit Chief Minister of Punjab. His elevation came after marathon meetings in Chandigarh and Delhi, and strong demand by a group of MLAs to pick a Dalit CM.
Among his first announcements after taking oath to the post, Channi said his government is “pro-farmer”, and urged the Union Government to withdraw the new Farm Laws.
“This a pro-farmer government… I appeal to the Union Government to roll back the Farm Laws. If famers are destroyed, Punjab, and the whole country will be destroyed,” he said.
Channi also announced a waiver of electricity and water bills for farmers, and said no power connections will be cut for non-payment of dues. He also promised restoring all connections that were discontinued due to pending bills.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated the new Punjab Chief Minister shortly after he swore-in.
