Fresh Rift in Punjab Congress: Channi Questions Upper Caste Dominance; BJP Invites Him to Join

Published on: 20 Jan 2026 at 11:26 AM

Published by: Gill Bikram

Fresh Rift in Punjab Congress: Channi Questions Upper Caste Dominance; BJP Invites Him to Join

Punjab Congress is once again gripped by internal political turmoil. Statements by former Chief Minister and Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi on Dalit representation in party posts have sparked fresh debate.

Chandigarh: A video of Charanjit Singh Channi from a Congress Scheduled Caste (SC) wing meeting has gone viral, where he questions the current Punjab Congress leadership. Channi has leveled serious allegations of neglecting the Dalit community within the party.

What Channi Said in the Meeting?
Citing the 35-38% Dalit population in Punjab, Channi stated:

Questions on Posts: “Punjab Congress President, Leader of Opposition (LoP), Women’s Wing President, and General Secretary—all are from upper castes (Jat Sikhs). If all major posts are held by one group, where do Dalits go?”
Demand for Representation: He demanded Dalit representation in the party structure proportional to their population.

Channi Clarifies Stance
Amid the controversy, Channi clarified he spoke against no specific community. He claims his statements are being misrepresented on social media for propaganda.

Current Punjab Congress Leadership
All key positions in Punjab Congress are currently held by Jat Sikh leaders:

Amrinder Singh Raja Warring: Punjab Congress President.
Partap Singh Bajwa: Leader of Opposition.

Sources indicate party high command has called a crucial state leadership meeting on January 23 to resolve this internal clash.

BJP’s Offer to Channi
Capitalizing on the situation, BJP leader Kewal Singh Dhillon invited Channi to join the Bharatiya Janata Party. Dhillon posted on X (formerly Twitter):
“Channi ji, your stance supports Dalit rights. Congress may not give you the respect you deserve, but BJP offers a true chance to serve every community with full honor.”

Outcome: This caste-based battle ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections could spell trouble for Congress.