Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has set off fresh political speculation in Punjab after calling former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh his “favourite BJP leader” during a Gen-Z interaction program in Delhi.
The remark came in response to a question from a young participant asking which BJP leader he liked the most. Rahul Gandhi replied:
“Captain Amarinder Singh, definitely. I get along with him very easily. He is extremely easy-going and an expert in military history, which is why I like him. Hello Uncle Amarinder…”
Rahul Gandhi later shared the video of the interaction on his social media platform, giving the comment wider political visibility.
The statement has triggered discussions in Punjab about the possibility of Captain Amarinder Singh returning to the Congress. The speculation has gained momentum because Amarinder Singh had recently said publicly that he misses the Congress party, describing it as “like a family.” He had also said that Rahul Gandhi remained in touch with him during both good and difficult times, while he did not experience the same sense of belonging in the BJP.
The development has drawn attention because it comes at a time when the Punjab Congress is facing internal factionalism. Just a day earlier, Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring had said in Ludhiana that all issues within the state unit would be resolved within a week, otherwise Rahul Gandhi could take a major decision regarding the party organisation.
Reacting to the growing buzz, Congress MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh, considered close to former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, said that Captain Amarinder Singh would be welcomed if he returned to the Congress.
Senior Congress leader Pargat Singh also said that Amarinder Singh has served twice as Punjab Chief Minister and that his political and administrative experience could benefit the party.
Captain Amarinder Singh resigned as Punjab Chief Minister in 2021 following a bitter power struggle within the Congress and later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party. Since then, his relationship with the Congress leadership has remained a subject of political interest.
With the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections approaching, Rahul Gandhi’s unexpected praise for Amarinder Singh has added a fresh twist to the state’s political equations, intensifying speculation about whether the former Chief Minister could once again play a role in the Congress fold.
