Channi skips CWC meet, cites MA exam | Chandigarh News
Chandigarh: Former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi skipped the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting on Wednesday, citing his MA postgraduate examination, even as other senior Punjab leaders attended the party’s highest decision-making body amid the state’s continuing factional tussle.The meeting, chaired by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, was attended by Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Punjab affairs in charge Bhupesh Baghel, senior leader Vijay Inder Singla and former deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa.According to party sources, Channi, a permanent member of the CWC, informed the party leadership that he would be unable to attend as he was appearing for his MA examination in public administration on Thursday. Channi has already completed a PhD in political science from Panjab University.His absence comes as a section of Punjab Congress leaders, including Channi, Randhawa and former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, has been seeking a change in the state leadership and has expressed reservations over the continuation of Amrinder Singh Raja Warring as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president.Warring and leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa are not members of CWC.Randhawa dismissed any political significance to Channi’s absence. “We wish him well. May he complete his PhD and become a doctor,” he said.The rift within the Punjab Congress has sharpened since the party decided to retain Warring as PPCC chief. During the recent nine-day Har Booth, Congress Mazboot campaign, sloganeering, protests and clashes between rival factions were reported at several programmes, prompting Baghel to warn of disciplinary action. A poster war targeting Baghel, Warring and Channi further exposed the party’s internal divisions.
