Lucknow: Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati said the Dalit leader's appointment as Punjab chief minister is a political gimmick by Congress ahead of the assembly elections in 2022. 

On Charanjit Singh Channi becoming Punjab CM Mayawati said, " 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". 

Reacting to Congress leader Sunil Jakhar's response to Harish Rawat's statement on Sidhu's leadership during the upcoming assembly elections, Mayawati alleged that the Congress party doesn't fully trust Dalits. 

" 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," said Mayawati. 

Read: Punjab: Sunil Jakhar, Rawat divided over leadership in 2022 Punjab elections

Charanjit Singh Channi, 58, a three-time MLA, is the first Dalit Sikh to become chief minister of Punjab. He hails from the Ramdasia Sikh community.

"Ramdasia is a term used in general for Sikhs whose ancestors belonged ex Chamar caste. Originally they are followers of Guru Ravidass ji who belongs to Chamar community ". Ramdasia Sikhs are enlisted as scheduled caste by the Department of Social justice, Empowerment and Minorities- Government of Punjab.