No Leadership Change in Punjab Congress, Says Baghel After Talks with Channi Faction
Congress observer Bhupesh Baghel has ruled out any immediate change in the leadership of the Punjab Congress unit following a meeting with the dissident faction led by former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi. Baghel, who is the Chhattisgarh Chief Minister and a senior Congress leader, met Channi and his supporters on Tuesday in New Delhi to discuss the ongoing rift in the state party unit.
After the meeting, Baghel told reporters that 'all is well' and that the party is united. He dismissed speculation about a leadership change, stating that the Congress high command has full confidence in the current state leadership, headed by Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as state president and Partap Singh Bajwa as Leader of Opposition in the Assembly.
The meeting comes amid growing tension between the Channi camp and the current state leadership. Channi and his loyalists have been demanding a change in the state leadership, citing poor performance in recent by-elections and the 2022 Assembly elections, where the Congress lost to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). However, Baghel's statement suggests that the central leadership is not inclined to accede to these demands at present.
Baghel was appointed as the Punjab Congress observer in 2023 to oversee coordination and resolve internal disputes. His visit to Delhi and subsequent meetings with various factions are part of ongoing efforts to maintain unity in the state unit ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
The Punjab Congress has been plagued by factionalism since the 2022 Assembly elections, with multiple groups vying for influence. The Channi faction represents a section that wants a greater say in decision-making, while the current leadership has been backed by the central leadership so far.
Political analysts note that frequent leadership changes could further weaken the party in Punjab, which is already struggling to regain foothold after the AAP's landslide victory. The Congress high command is likely keen to avoid any drastic moves that could trigger instability.
