Congress leadership standoff ends: Channi pledges allegiance after high command meeting
With the Congress party's internal discord over Punjab leadership appearing to subside, former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Thursday expressed their adherence to the party high command's decision.
“All is well. We are with the party and will obey all the directions of the party high command,” Channi told reporters in New Delhi after emerging from a three-hour meeting with AICC general secretary (Organisation) KC Venugopal. Also present at the meeting were MLAs Pargat Singh and Rana Gurjeet Singh, who are considered close to Channi.
The meeting came amid reports that Channi and his supporters were sulking after the high command asked Amrinder Singh Raja Warring to continue as the party's Punjab unit chief ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled for early next year. The Congress leadership's firm stance on retaining Warring appears to have brought the dissenting faction back into the fold.
Political observers note that the development is crucial for the Congress as it seeks to present a united front in Punjab, where it faces a stiff challenge from the Aam Aadmi Party and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party-alliance. The party had previously witnessed a change in chief ministership in September 2021 when Channi replaced Captain Amarinder Singh, only to lose power after the 2022 Assembly elections.
Channi’s statement marks a significant shift from earlier reports of discontent and signals a temporary resolution to the leadership tussle. However, the underlying factionalism within the Punjab Congress remains a concern as the party prepares for the upcoming electoral battle.
