DNA Exclusive: Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Channi's explosive interview ahead of Assembly Election

Zee News Editor-In-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary interviewies Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi.

As Punjab elections are just round the corner, Zee News Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary on Tuesday grilled Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi - one of the most prominent faces in the election. Channi spoke vividly on the party's prospects in the elections, challenge from Aam Aadmi Party and infighting in the state unit. He also spoke on party's state unit chief Navjot Singh Sidhu's controversial activities and his own chances of becoming the Chief Minister again. 

Here are a few highlights of the interview:

On appointment as CM at the end of Congress' 5-year rule

Charanjit Singh Channi said that though he was allowed to work for a short tenure, he has played a "blistering knock in the last two overs of this Twenty-twenty match."

Channi said that he is trying hard to be an "accessible head of state who works hard for the people".

"I don't sleep before 2 am and wake up early," Channi said.

"I am setting a trend where people are able to meet the Chief Minister anytime," he said, adding: "People are not for chief minister, chief minister is for the people."

Channi said that Navjot Singh Sidhu is leading the party in Punjab, while he is the head of the government. Speaking to Zee News Editor-in-Chief Sudhir Chaudhary, Channi took a number of questions on Sidhu's recent activities and role in the party.

Channi denied the notion that Sidhu's recent acts were detrimental to the party, he said: "No, there was no loss to the party. I work with my own attitude. I care for people."

Clarifying Sidhu's act of making poll promises before manifesto launch, Channi said: "He only announced things that were discussed in party's manifesto committee."

Channi, on a question on Sidhu's ambitions to become the Chief Minister, said that everyone is "free to watch dreams". He further said that it serves no purpose to speculate on the probables for the top post.

Channi, referring to Sidhu's criticism of state government, said that he likes people who "criticise and guide him".

'I am not an accidental Chief Minister'

Charanjit Singh Channi said that he is not an "accidental Chief Minister" as he has worked on the ground level since his starting days in politics. "I am among people since childhood. I even fought election in college. I won as an independent (before joining Congress). I became won as a legislator thrice".

On his personal life and background

Channi told Sudhir Chaudhary that he comes from a humble background and his father use to run a business of tents. "My father ran a business of tents. I also used to work with him. Every middle-class person has to work hard. It's a truth," Channi said. However, he stressed the importance of education: "My father always stressed on education. He made us study. I am taking forward the same principle and working for a bright future of our students".

On Amarinder Singh

Attacking Amarinder Singh for being unapproachable, Channi said that he only met the former chief minister "four times in four-year tenure". "It was very difficult to meet him, one had to wait for days," he said

"It was his habit that everyone should touch his feet," he said.  

"We are poor, we are from the middle class, we are happy with what we have, they are happy with rich people. We are happy to drink tea, they need people to drink alcohol at night," he said in reference to Amarinder Singh's elite lifestyle.

On AAP

Channi claimed that the popularity of AAP or its chief Arvind Kejriwal has not increased.

"Last time, there was so much talk of Aam Aadmi Party, we thought we mayn't win many seats. But the results showed that out of 117, AAP was elected only to 20," Channi said.

"Many of them left the party later. This party is a fraud, people in the party are not of right kind. The people of Punjab are intelligent, they will take a good decision," he said

Channi added, "I have no grudges against anyone. But why will the people of Punjab choose outsiders? They will choose farmers. Why will they choose Delhiites?"

How many seats for Punjab in coming polls?

Channi said that Congress will see a landslide win in the upcoming Assembly polls and the party will surely get more seats than it won last time under Captain Amarinder Singh.