Rahul lets Channi use plane for a day

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 11

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s fascination for Charanjit Singh Channi was again a talking point in party circles today as the CLP leader was specially flown from New Delhi to Chandigarh for a poll event and then made to return in the same plane for a crucial central election committee meeting.

Some leaders in the Punjab Congress have been viewing the move as a bid to counter-balance the state unit president, Capt Amarinder Singh. Others see it as the emergence of yet another power centre in the Punjab Congress after Manpreet Badal and cricketer-turned-politician Navjot Sidhu, who is slated to join the party soon.

The plane provided to Channi is said to be at Rahul’s disposal for the Assembly elections. Not only this, Channi was, with Rahul’s backing, playing a crucial role in the selection of candidates for Punjab, said sources.

Over a year ago, Channi was made the CLP leader in place of Sunil Jakhar, much to the annoyance of the Capt Amarinder camp.

“As I wanted to be in Chamkaur Sahib today to kick off my campaign in one of the blocks in my constituency, the vice-president allowed me to use his plane to reach Punjab and return to Delhi,” said Channi.