Punjab ground to viral songs, Channi presence grows: Will he be Congress face for 2027 polls?

The results of last month’s local body elections in Punjab triggered a familiar political discourse over the impact of star campaigners in the polls. Among such campaigners whose role created ripples in the rural body polls was Congress leader and former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, the Jalandhar MP.

In his campaign, Channi, 62, largely kept his focus on two belts – his previous Assembly constituency Chamkaur Sahib in Rupnagar district and his current Jalandhar constituency.

In Chamkaur Sahib, which Channi has represented thrice as an MLA, the Congress swept all 15 panchayat samiti (PS) seats and both zila parishad (ZP) seats. Across Rupnagar, the Congress secured 50 of the 93 PS seats and five of the 10 ZP seats.

In Jalandhar, while the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) emerged as the largest party by winning 78 of 188 PS seats and 10 of 21 ZP seats, the Congress was close behind as it secured 61 PS and seven ZP seats. Overall, the AAP won the polls by a landslide across the state.

Channi has remained visible on the ground, even as his presence on social media has grown manifold in recent months. His supporters have been churning out reels showcasing his political activities, which are often set to a viral line from Punjabi singer Nirvair Singh Pannu’s recent song: “Thode time ch ragda jo sarkar si Channi di (Channi’s government shook things up in a short span of time)” – a reference to his six-month CM stint in 2021-22.

Adding to his social media presence is a viral rap song, which projects him as a future CM by declaring: “Es vaar Channi sarkar… boldi rakane har gali har country… fer toh banane Channi saab mukhyamantri (This time it will be Channi government, he is being talked about in every street and country, Channi will again be CM)”.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Channi says, “I too heard the songs by these two singers. I don’t know them personally, but they have mentioned me. These are organic songs – from their side, not mine. I have never said anywhere that I am the CM face. I am busy working on the ground like a true Congressman.”

On the many social media videos covering his political activities that use such songs, Channi says, “I don’t take mileage from such songs, it is the love of the masses.”

In recent years, the Jalandhar MP has consistently made the headlines for reasons beyond electoral arithmetic. From dancing to bhangra beats with singer Ranjit Bawa to working with farmers to plug a breach at the Dhussi Bundh during Punjab’s 2025 floods, Channi has remained publicly visible.

Dressed in his signature white kurta-pajama paired with pastel-shade lohi (shawl), Channi has been visiting villages across Rupnagar and Jalandhar. Much of this outreach is documented on his YouTube channel through episodes such as ‘Channi Karda Masle Hal (Channi resolves issues)’ and ‘Ghar Ghar Channi’.

‘Ghar Ghar Channi’ shows him meeting Anganwadi workers, ASHA activists, mid-day meal cooks, and MGNREGA labourers in villages like Paprali, Kakrali, Dehar and Mundian in Chamkaur Sahib. During these interactions, Channi recalls the decisions taken by his government between September 2021 and March 2022 – including hikes in honorarium for Anganwadi and mid-day meal workers, and clearing pending dues to ASHA activists.

‘Channi Karda Masle Hal’ shows him visiting sites where projects initiated during the previous Congress regime has remained incomplete. He has repeatedly highlighted the stalled construction of a skill university in Chamkaur Sahib, on which Rs 150 crore was spent between 2017 and 2022. He has also flagged incomplete government school buildings, challenging the AAP government’s claims of bringing an “education revolution”.

During Parliament sessions, his interventions in the House have often drawn smiles even from the Treasury benches. He was also given the prestigious Sansad Ratna Award last year along with 17 other MPs.

Channi’s growing role has even caught the eyes of his opponents in Punjab. A senior BJP leader said, “We have been told to closely watch his social media presence and the way he is reaching out to the masses.”

As the Congress debates its potential CM faces for the state Assembly polls slated for early 2027, the state party unit has been beset with infighting and factionalism with several prominent aspirants for the top post.

Pritpal Singh Baliawal, state BJP spokesperson said, “While Channi is the front runner in the CM race in the Punjab Congress, his absence from many Congress programmes shows how united the party is… In the Samrala constituency, the Congress held a rally on Friday against G-RAM-G Act (which has replaced MGNREGA) in which Channi and (former state minister) Bharat Bhushan Ashu were missing.”

Addressing the Samrala rally, the Congress’s Gurdaspur MP and former Deputy CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said, “None of us wants to be the CM. We want a Congress government in the state… It is being spread that there are many CM faces… There is no such groupism… We follow the orders of (Congress chief) Mallikarjun Kharge ji, Rahul Gandhi ji and (AICC Punjab in-charge) Bhupesh Baghel ji… The Congress is united.”

A CWC member, Channi began his political career in the Kharar Municipal Council, first as a councillor and then as its president in 2002. In 2007, he surprised many by winning the Chamkaur Sahib Assembly seat as an Independent, and joined the Congress afterwards. He won the seat again in 2012 and 2017, serving as the Assembly’s Leader of the Opposition from 2015 to 2016 and then as the Technical Education minister under then CM Captain Amarinder Singh from 2017 to 2021, before taking over as Punjab’s first Dalit CM in September 2021.

“His 111-day tenure is remembered for decisions like slashing domestic power tariffs, introducing Rs 2,500 monthly honorarium for Anganwadi workers and announcing Rs 17,000 per acre compensation for cotton farmers hit by pink bollworm,” says Sukhjinder Singh Rajan, a farmer from Abohar in Fazilka district.

Though the Congress’s 2022 Assembly election debacle – when Channi himself lost from Chamkaur Sahib and Bhadaur seats – dealt a major blow to him, he bounced back in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, when he won the Jalandhar seat by over 1.75 lakh votes. After last month’s local body elections, even CM Bhagwant Mann mentioned Channi while congratulating winners.