Chandigarh [India]: Signs of fresh unrest have emerged within the Punjab Congress after the party high command decided against changing the state leadership, prompting former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi to convene a meeting of his supporters to discuss the future course of action.
According to party sources, the Congress leadership has decided to retain Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president, ending speculation over a possible leadership change ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
The decision has reportedly left Channi, who was considered one of the frontrunners for the post, dissatisfied.
Sources said several of his supporters and senior Congress leaders are expected to gather at his residence on Friday to deliberate on the political situation and chart the next course of action.
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Interestingly, while Channi has been appointed chairman of the party's campaign committee, he has so far not publicly thanked the Congress high command on social media, unlike several other leaders who welcomed the organisational reshuffle. His silence has fuelled speculation over his displeasure with the party's decision.
Senior Congress leaders, including O.P. Soni and Bharat Bhushan Ashu, are expected to attend the meeting at Channi's residence. Supporters of the former chief minister have also begun voicing dissatisfaction over the leadership decision, indicating growing discontent within the state unit.
The Congress high command's decision comes after weeks of internal consultations and intense lobbying by various factions within the Punjab unit. A section of party leaders had reportedly sought a change in the state leadership, arguing that a new face was needed to strengthen the organisation ahead of the Assembly elections.
However, the party opted to maintain the status quo by reappointing Raja Warring as the state Congress chief while assigning Channi the responsibility of leading the campaign committee.
The developments have once again brought the Congress's internal factionalism into focus, reminiscent of the infighting that plagued the party ahead of the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections.
Meanwhile, party sources also indicated that the Congress leadership has decided that sitting Lok Sabha MPs will not contest the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections, although the present controversy centres primarily on the decision to retain Raja Warring as the PPCC chief.
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The meeting at Channi's residence is expected to provide clarity on whether the former chief minister and his supporters will continue to press for organisational changes or fall in line with the party leadership's decision as the Congress begins preparations for the next electoral battle in Punjab.
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