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The political turmoil and factionalism in the inner corridors of Punjab Congress is not stopping, due to which the danger of another major split within the party is looming. Newly appointed in-charge of Punjab Congress and former Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Bhupesh Baghel, who is on a five-day Chandigarh tour to calm the ongoing fierce political discord in the state, held an emergency marathon meeting with top party leaders on Tuesday. After this high-profile meeting, Baghel completely rejected the possibility of any major reshuffle in the organizational structure of Punjab Congress. He categorically assured the leaders that there was going to be no change in the current leadership, which has dealt a blow to the hopes of the disgruntled faction.
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) President Amarinder Singh Raja Wading, two of the three recently appointed working presidents—Rajkumar Verka and Sukhwinder Singh Danny—the party’s organization general secretary, treasurer and several district presidents were prominently present at the strategic review meeting called by the in-charge. The main objective of this meeting was to unite and strengthen the grassroots organization of the party before the 2027 assembly elections.
Channi and Randhawa faction kept distance: Many senior leaders were missing from the meeting
Despite the strong statements of Bhupesh Baghel, the ground reality is telling something else. Senior leader Sangat Singh Giljian, considered very close to former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, maintained distance from the entire meeting. Apart from this, two prominent district presidents also did not participate in this organizational discussion. The concerns of the Congress high command have increased due to former CM Channi and former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa not attending this meeting.
However, after the meeting ended, State President Amarinder Singh Raja Wadding clearly refused to give much importance to this mass absence. While giving clarification to the media, he said that some senior leaders could not be present due to their pre-planned programs and due to personal reasons. Wadding claimed that the entire clan of Punjab Congress is completely united and their only aim is to strengthen the organization at the grassroots level.
Accusations on the in-charge of misleading the high command: Rebels adamant on the demand for removal of Raja Vading
The dissatisfied Channi faction of Punjab Congress is adamant on the demand of immediate removal of the current state president Amarinder Singh Raja Wadding from his post. The direct and serious allegation of Channi supporters is that state in-charge Bhupesh Baghel has completely misled the Congress high command sitting in Delhi by not giving correct feedback about the actual political conditions on the ground.
The rebel faction believes that the high command’s retention of Vading’s name as Punjab chief last Wednesday and the announcement of various committees formed for the upcoming 2027 elections was one-sided. Instead of preparing for the assembly elections, this direct rebellion on the streets among these top Congress leaders has handed over a big issue to the opposition parties.
Channi’s secret meeting in Mohali: Eyes fixed on Baghel’s next step while trying for reconciliation
How deep is the fire of rebellion within the party can be gauged from a parallel meeting held in Mohali on Monday. A secret meeting was held by several sitting and former Congress MLAs in the presence of former Chief Minister and current Lok Sabha MP Charanjit Singh Channi. In this meeting, a demand was openly raised that the command of Punjab Congress should be handed over to Channi instead of Raja Wadding.
On the other hand, Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel is working day and night in his damage control efforts. To suppress the dissent, he personally visited the residence of Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira and senior leader Rajkumar Verka and had a long personal meeting with them. On his arrival in Chandigarh on Monday, when journalists questioned Baghel about the displeasure of Channi group and the change of state president, he asked for two-three days’ time and asked to clarify the situation soon. Now it remains to be seen whether Baghel succeeds in convincing Channi and Randhawa, or whether Punjab Congress is once again on the path of repeating the old suicidal history of ‘Captain vs Sidhu’.