New Delhi/Chandigarh: The internal rift within the Punjab Congress has deepened, with leaders loyal to former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi stepping up pressure on the party high command ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
Senior Punjab Congress leaders met Congress General Secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal in New Delhi to discuss the ongoing factionalism and the way forward.
The meeting comes amid growing demands from the Channi camp for changes in the state leadership.
Congress leader and Punjab affairs in-charge Bhupesh Baghel, who recently held consultations with party leaders in Punjab, submitted his report to Venugopal after assessing concerns raised by different factions.
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Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Baghel dismissed speculation about an imminent leadership change, stating that the Congress high command has already taken its decision and that there is no proposal to replace the current state leadership.
The latest flashpoint came after supporters of Charanjit Singh Channi launched a social media poster campaign carrying the slogan "Sara Punjab Channi De Naal" (The whole of Punjab stands with Channi). The posters have been widely shared by Channi's supporters, including Youth Congress leaders and former ministers, as part of a campaign urging the party to project Channi as its chief ministerial face for the next Assembly elections.
The Channi camp has also been demanding the removal of Amrinder Singh Raja Warring from the post of Punjab Congress president, arguing that a leadership change is necessary to strengthen the party ahead of the polls.
The dissatisfaction is not limited to Channi's supporters. Senior Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has also publicly criticized Raja Warring's leadership, stating that several leaders are unwilling to work under what he described as a "compromised leadership."
Despite the mounting pressure, the Congress high command has so far shown no indication of altering the state leadership. Baghel reiterated that discussions with Punjab leaders have been conveyed to the party leadership, but stressed that media speculation about an immediate reshuffle is unfounded.
The latest developments indicate that factionalism within the Punjab Congress remains unresolved, with rival camps continuing to jockey for influence as the party prepares for the next Assembly election.
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