Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
With just eight months to go before the Punjab Assembly election campaign gathers pace, infighting within the Punjab Congress continues to intensify.
AICC in-charge Bhupesh Baghel, who is on a five-day visit to the state, firmly dismissed demands for a change in the party's state leadership, saying that replacing the Punjab Congress chief is "not a game of dolls" and that the party high command will not reverse its decision.
Baghel said he had spoken with former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, who is currently away, and had also held discussions with senior leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. He added that he intends to meet all party leaders during his visit. Reaffirming the leadership of Punjab Congress president Raja Warring, Baghel said Warring enjoys the support of 23 district presidents, who have already expressed their confidence in him during party meetings.
Baghel's strong remarks come amid criticism from the Channi camp, which has alleged that the AICC leadership was misled through an inaccurate report. The faction has argued that the Congress would struggle to win the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections under Raja Warring's leadership.
Meanwhile, Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa also sent a clear message to dissenting leaders. Referring to the 2022 Assembly elections, Bajwa said that despite internal setbacks, the Aam Aadmi Party went on to secure a massive victory.
He warned that if senior leaders fail to move forward together, new leadership will naturally emerge. Without naming the Channi faction, Bajwa urged them to wait another eight to ten days and said discussions could continue if their appeal was rejected.
Jalandhar Cantonment MLA Pargat Singh also appealed for unity, saying Punjab can no longer afford political experiments with elections approaching. He stressed that the party should resolve internal differences instead of engaging in photo opportunities aimed at projecting strength or shaping political narratives.
