Mayawati flays Congress, terms Channi's appointment 'political gimmick'

Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati has termed Congress' appointment of Charanjit Singh Channi as the Punjab CM a few months ahead of the assembly elections in the state as a political gimmick.

Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh):Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati has slammed Congress' appointment of Charanjit Singh Channi as the Punjab CM a few months ahead of the assembly elections in the state as a political gimmick.

"I congratulate Charanjit Singh Channi on becoming Punjab CM. It would have been better if he had been appointed as CM earlier. Channi's appointment as CM a few months ahead of Punjab assembly elections appears to be a poll gimmick. I have also come to know through media that the next Punjab assembly elections will be fought under the leadership of a non-Dalit. This means that Congress still does not fully trust the Dalits. Congress is also scared of the SAD-BSP alliance in Punjab," the BSP chief Mayawati said.

She further targeted the saying, "If BJP wants to do something for the OBC, why doesn't it conduct caste wise census. Why the vacant posts of SC-ST have not been filled in government jobs so far?" People should be cautious of the electoral gimmicks of BJP and Congres, she added.

Congress leader Charanjit Singh Channi was sworn in as the 16th Chief Minister of Punjab on Monday at the Raj Bhavan in Chandigarh. Channi, who took the oath in Punjabi, became the first individual from the Dalit community to occupy the top post in Punjab. The 58-year-old leader was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor Banwarilal Purohit at a simple ceremony in the Raj Bhavan in Chandigarh. While Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and OP Soni took oath as the Deputy Chief Ministers.

Congress' surprise pick, Channi, one of the Captain's cabinet ministers, had openly taken a clear stand against the former CM. Channi has also played a big role in leading the anti-Captain campaign within the party.

By choosing Channi, the Congress high command also played the caste card to woo the Dalit voters in the upcoming Assembly election, and counter the move of Shiromani Akali Dal, who has an alliance with the Bahujan Samajwadi Party (BSP).