New CLP leader calls on Capt
Sunday, 13/12/2015
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PATIALA: After being appointed the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader on Friday, Charanjit Singh Channi called upon state party president Capt Amarinder Singh at the latter’s residence here on Saturday.
MLA Brahm Mohindra (left) welcoming new CLP leader Charanjit Singh Channi in Patiala on Saturday.
Navtej Cheema, who has been appointed the chief whip of the party in the state legislature, also accompanied Channi. However, deputy CLP leader Bharat Bhushan Ashu, a confidant of former state party president Partap Singh Bajwa, didn’t accompany them. Channi is a confidant of Rajya Sabha MP Ambika Soni and the choice of national party vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who wanted a Dalit as the CLP leader. Amarinder had been batting for retaining former CLP leader Sunil Jakhar to the post.
Channi held a closed-door meeting with Amarinder, where the leaders discussed the political issues on how to take on the Shiromani Akali Dal and Aam Aadmi Party. Senior party leader Tripat Rajinder Bajwa, Gurkirat Singh Kotli, Gurpreet Kangar and Ramanjit Sikki were present at the meeting, where Amarinder asked the leaders to gear up for the Khadoor Sahib elections, which is crucial for the party as the Congress has a good chance of retaining the seat where Sikki enjoys a good following.
Amarinder asked Channi to mobilise the Dalit vote bank for the Congress. He assured full support to the three young leaders who had been assigned crucial roles. Later, Channi visited the house of MLA Brahm Mohindra, who was also a contender for the post of the CLP leader.
Meanwhile, Amarinder, in a press release, welcomed Channi’s elevation. He thanked Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Rahul for reposing confidence in the young and promising leaders.
