Former Punjab Chief Minister and Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi appeared for his final examination in the Master of Public Administration (MPA) programme at Panjab University on Thursday.
The examination continued until around 12:30 pm, after which Channi walked out of the examination hall. A photograph taken inside the hall showed the 63-year-old Congress leader seated among other students as he wrote his paper.
Channi’s security personnel and accompanying staff remained outside the examination hall during the test. He appeared for the examination alongside fellow students without any special arrangements inside the hall.
Channi has pursued higher education across several disciplines. He holds BA and LLB degrees from Panjab University and an MBA from I.K. Gujral Punjab Technical University. In 2023, he completed a PhD in Political Science from Panjab University.
Speaking after Thursday’s examination, Channi said it was his last paper for the master’s programme and expressed his intention to undertake further research in public policy.
“Today was my last exam of Masters in Public Administration. I want to undertake research in policy reforms and will pursue a PhD programme in this regard from Panjab University here,” he said.
“My subject will be how reforms can be brought in policy and put Punjab on the development track,” Channi added, saying he had been studying for the past four and a half years.
His academic commitments also kept him away from the Congress Working Committee meeting in Delhi on Wednesday. The meeting, attended by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, discussed several political issues, including the party’s strategy to put pressure on the government ahead of Assembly elections a few months from now.
Channi’s absence from the meeting came amid growing political activity within the Punjab Congress. It was also the second recent occasion on which he did not attend an event where Rahul Gandhi was scheduled to be present. On July 29, Channi was absent from the Lok Sabha when Gandhi delivered a speech targeting the government. Instead, he attended a function organised by his supporters in Faridkot.
His latest absence reportedly generated discussion within party circles, particularly as the Congress continues to deliberate on political issues concerning Punjab and the wider country.
Meanwhile, Channi and a number of senior leaders considered close to him have been seeking a change in the Punjab Congress leadership. They have publicly opposed the continuation of Amrinder Singh Raja Warring as state Congress president and have also backed Channi as the party’s potential chief ministerial face. The group had intensified its campaign during the visits of AICC Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel to the poll-bound state.
With his latest examination now completed, Channi has indicated that his academic pursuits will continue, with public policy reforms and Punjab’s development likely to form the focus of his proposed research.
