Charanjit Singh Channi takes oath as Punjab CM

Channi is the state's first dalit chief minister

ITDC INDIA EPRESS/ITDC NEWS R Punjab's new chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi took oath at the Raj Bhawan on Monday. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also attended Channi's oath taking ceremony at Chandigarh.  Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu, state in-charge Harish Rawat and senior party leader Sunil Jakhar were also present.

A minister in the outgoing Amarinder Singh Cabinet, Channi's selection assumes significance as the Congress faces the assembly polls in less than five months. Channi is known to be close to Punjab Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu

The Congress naming Channi, a dalit face who comes from the Rupnagar district in the state's Malwa belt, assumes significance as Punjab has a population of nearly 32 per cent from the community.