High-Stakes Congress Meeting in Chandigarh Amid Leadership Tussle in Punjab

Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh

A crucial meeting between former Chief Minister and Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi and the party's Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel is going at the Chandigarh residence of Kapurthala MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh.

Although it was scheduled for 11 a.m., Baghel arrived nearly an hour and fifteen minutes later. He is expected to leave for Delhi soon after the discussions.

Speaking to the media before the meeting, Channi said, "We have come for the meeting. We will sit inside and discuss everything. We will see how things unfold. Our stand is clear—wait and watch." His remarks have fueled speculation that the rebel camp could take a major political decision if the talks fail to produce a satisfactory outcome.

Despite the Congress high command reportedly asking Channi to meet Baghel with only two or three senior leaders, nearly 80 leaders from the Channi camp gathered at the venue in a show of strength.

Ahead of the meeting, the rebel faction reiterated its demand that Channi be declared the Congress' chief ministerial face for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. The group argued that if Channi is not made the state party president, the leadership should officially project him as the CM candidate so the party can seek votes in his name.

The Congress high command has already indicated that it has no plans to replace Amrinder Singh Raja Warring as Punjab Congress president. In line with the Channi camp's condition, Raja Warring was not invited to the meeting. The outcome of the discussions is expected to play a key role in determining whether the party can contain internal dissent ahead of the 2027 elections.

Several senior Congress leaders from the Channi camp attended the meeting, including former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, former MP Mohammad Sadiq, former minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar, former minister Tript Rajinder Bajwa, MLA Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia, MLA Kuldeep Singh Kala Dhillon, Malvika Sood Moga, Sangat Singh Gilzian, and a number of former MLAs including Ajeetinder Singh Mofar, Pirmal Singh, Jagdev Singh Kamalu, Madan Lal Jalalpur, Davinder Singh Ghubaya, Harpartap Singh Ajnala, Inderbir Singh Bularia, Karan Kaur Brar, Lakhbir Singh Lakha, Darshan Singh Brar and former minister Gurkirat Singh Kotli.