Channi launches ‘Jawani Sambhal’ cycle yatra from Chamkaur Sahib, Congress kicks off Punjab 2027 poll campaign
Chamkaur Sahib (Ropar): The Congress opened its campaign for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections on Thursday, flagging off the “Jawani Sambhal” cycle yatra from Chamkaur Sahib, the home turf of former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi.
The yatra aims to rally young people against drug abuse and to target the AAP government over what the party calls its failures. Hundreds of cyclists, party flags and enthusiastic workers filled the venue. The event also served as a show of unity, with a long list of senior Punjab Congress leaders sharing the stage.
Party in-charge for Punjab Sachin Pilot gave the green signal to the yatra. Punjab Congress president Pargat Singh, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Rana Gurjeet Singh and Vijay Inder Singla were among those present.
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Before the launch, Channi visited Gurdwara Katalgarh Sahib to pay his respects. Local leaders brought in supporters in groups and singers were arranged to draw people to the rally. About 2,000 new bicycles were given to youngsters and others taking part.
The eight-day yatra, running from November 12 to 19, forms part of the party’s larger “Punjab Mangda Insaaf” campaign. It will cover roughly 625 km across 27 Assembly segments, with around 2,000 cyclists in this first phase. In every constituency, the party plans marches and meetings to hear local concerns directly from people.
Channi has built the campaign around issues affecting young Punjabis, including drugs, joblessness, corruption and worsening law and order.
Speaking at the event, Pilot alleged that Punjab’s people had been cheated and that the state was effectively being run by people from Delhi. He described the black flags shown by AAP workers to the rally as a good sign for the Congress. He said tickets would go to leaders who had worked at the grassroots.
Bajwa tried to calm worries about the future of welfare schemes started by the AAP government. He said a Congress government would not scrap free electricity or the promised Rs 1,000 monthly assistance for women. He urged party leaders to stay united, adding that the high command would decide on the leadership question at the right time. For now, he said, the aim must be to defeat AAP and protect Punjab and its youth.
Channi called the rally the start of a political movement against the AAP government and said the response showed a Congress wave building in the state. Reacting to the black flags shown by a few AAP supporters along the route, he said the Congress had never disrupted other parties’ events and warned that its workers would resist any attempt to disturb its own.
Other leaders present included Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Sangat Singh Gilzian, Raj Kumar Verka, Sukhwinder Singh Danny, Harpartap Singh Ajnala, Sunil Dutti, Santokh Singh Bhalaipur, Surinder Singh Kartarpur, Razia Sultana and Sukhpal Singh Khaira.
- PTC NEWS
