Punjab Newsline | Ludhiana
A Punjab Congress meeting in Ludhiana turned controversial after two rival factions of the party came face to face in the presence of Punjab Congress in-charge Bhupesh Baghel. The incident took place at Guru Nanak Bhawan before the start of a party program attended by a large number of Congress leaders and workers.
Supporters of Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and senior Congress leader Bharat Bhushan Ashu began raising slogans in favour of their respective leaders even before the program commenced. The sloganeering soon intensified, and both groups confronted each other, creating a tense atmosphere inside the auditorium.
The commotion continued for nearly half an hour, forcing the program to start behind schedule. Senior leaders present on the stage reportedly found it difficult to calm the situation as the shouting between the two factions grew louder.
Bhupesh Baghel remained on the stage throughout the episode and watched the developments for some time without intervening immediately. Meanwhile, Raja Warring repeatedly appealed to party workers to maintain peace and discipline, but his requests did not have an immediate effect on the supporters of either faction.
Incident has once again highlighted the growing factionalism within the Punjab Congress at a time when the party is preparing for upcoming political challenges in the state.
