Cong names Dalit MLA as its legislative party leader

Chandigarh: Charanjit Singh Channi, a dalit MLA, has been named as the Congress Legislative Party leader in Punjab - in an indication of a generation shift in the party’s state unit as well as its attempt at social engineering. The party also named two first-time MLAs - Punjab Congress chief Capt Amarinder Singh baiter Bharat Bhushan Ashu (43) from Ludhiana and Navtej Singh Cheema (41) from Sultanpur Lodhi, as Deputy CLP leader and Chief Whip in the Assembly, respectively. While Ashu is a Hindu, Cheema is a Jat Sikh. The appointments also reflect AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi’s influence on appointments. It is after a long time that the CLP leader has a Deputy and the Chief Whip has been appointed four years after the election of the government.