Chamkaur Sahib villagers to dump Congress in Punjab election, say unhappy over Channi 'not acceding to their demands'

Arun Sharma

Tribune News Service

Morinda, January 4

Announcement of development projects worth Rs 1,000 crore and grant to village panchayats by CM Charanjit Singh Channi does not seem to have made the electorate in his assembly constituency of Chamkaur Sahib happy as they want more.

As Channi “failed” in meeting their demands, a large number of people in nearby Sarhana village announced not to support Congress in the upcoming assembly elections.

While an aggrieved family wanted that their son in police get promoted from assistant sub inspector to sub inspector, the other had demanded transfer of a woman police official from Morinda to Chamkaur Sahib near her village. A 'staunch' supporter of Channi in the village decided not to support him henceforth as his son and daughter were not given suitable jobs.

Another family is annoyed with the chief minister as he didn't issue directions to the deputy commissioner to issue an arms licence to their son-in-law.

This is not the only section of people in the chief minister's assembly constituency who are disappointed with him for not acceding to their demands.

Local mediapersons are also up in arms against him as their complaint is that Channi has stopped attending their phone calls since taking over as chief minister. One of the scribes believed to be his confidant is reportedly annoyed with Channi as his brother didn't get job as excise and taxation officer. Another wanted her daughter to be inducted in Staff Service Selection Board.

Sources said hundreds of similar requests reach the chief minister from Chamkaur Sahib and Morinda every day.

Announcing the decision to quit Congress along with a large number of locals, Sarhana village sarpanch Simarjit Singh said the village had more than 700 voters and majority of them had supported Channi wholeheartedly during the last three elections. “Besides many development works, including repair of roads, construction of a dharamshala and cremation ground and cleaning of water pond, the chief minister issued a grant of Rs 22 lakh to the village panchayat. But he did nothing to solve the problems of individuals,” he said.

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