Unease in Akali Dal camp over Channi’s elevation to top post

At stake is the vote of 32% dalit population of the state, with every political party wanting a major chunk of it

with every political party wanting a major chunk of it.

Political developments over the weekend, however, have forced the top SAD leadership into a state of unease and, mostly, studied silence, with its eyes on the Congress.

Channi, in his maiden press itself on Monday, categorically stated that he will work for the welfare of his community. As things stand now, the Congress government leave no stones unturned to woo dalits, something all parties in the state want to do.

Towards this aim, Akalis have has promised the berth of deputy CM for a dalit candidate from the quota of alliance partner, BSP. Channi is elevation, is thus a bit upsetting, for the Akalis.

“Political developments taking place in the Congress party is an issue for our party. I think, however, that the juncture at which the shift of power has taken place (in Congress) it will not have a major impact on our prospects because it has come out as a delayed response to cover up failures of the Congress government under Capt Amarinder Singh,” said SAD MLA Gurpartap Singh Wadala who comes from Nakodar in Doaba. As part of its pre-poll alliance, SAD has allocated 20 assembly seats to the BSP.

“We were hoping to mop up the major share of the dalit vote bank in the upcoming polls,” said a SAD leader on anonymity, adding that after Channi’s appointment as CM, things will be difficult for Akalis.

BSP state president Jasvir Singh Garhi termed the development as a much-delayed response from the Congress, as a dalit CM has been appointed in Punjab, but 74 years after

Can the new CM expedite pending scholarships for SC students? He needs to perform to earn support. PAWAN TINU,

Independence.

“BSP is a party formed for the welfare of dalits and the Akali Dal has always given respect to the downtrodden community,” he claimed.

Another Akali MLA Pawan Tinu, a dalit, accepted that the Congress move was purely aimed at electoral gains and had come on the right time for it.

Tinu, of Adampur segment in Doaba, said, “Dalits, however, are intelligent and Channi will make the difference only when he sorts out issues pertaining to dalits, pending for four years now. Can he expedite pending scholarships for SC students and waive debt of farm labourers, who are also dalits? The new CM needs to perform.”

SAD MLA