Punjab Congress: Channi faction holds meeting, leaders head to Delhi

Infighting within the Punjab Congress has come into focus after faction leaders backing former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi left for Delhi on Monday to seek a meeting with the party high command, sources told ANI. The move comes even as AICC in-charge Bhupesh Baghel is scheduled to visit the state.

Earlier, Congress leader and Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa shared a photograph on social media showing a gathering of leaders from the Channi faction. Among those present were manifesto committee co-chairman Pargat Singh, election committee co-chairpersons Razia Sultana and Bharat Bhushan Ashu, along with several other senior party leaders. Randhawa captioned the post: 'Unity is strength.'

Notably absent from the meeting were Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, and MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira. However, the Punjab Congress issued a clarification on social media, stating that the meeting was part of preparations for the 2027 assembly elections. 'In view of the preparations for the 2027 assembly elections, Punjab Congress campaign committee chairman Charanjit Singh Channi and core committee chairman Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa held an important meeting with their team and senior party leaders. During this meeting, detailed discussions were held regarding election strategy, further strengthening the organisation, and upcoming programmes,' the party said.

Reacting to the speculation of a rift, Warring refuted the claims and said the meeting was not directed against anyone. 'Channi saab has only shared his photograph and stated that the meeting held in Morinda was continued. That meeting was not against anyone. As I have already explained, the Morinda meeting was held at the residence of our senior leader, respected Charanjit Singh Channi, who has been appointed chairman of the campaign committee. Many leaders went there to welcome and meet him. Those who did not attend may do so in the coming days. Please do not exaggerate the Morinda meeting. It was held to strengthen the Congress party, and today's meeting is also for the same purpose. Within the next couple of days, you will see all Congress leaders together on one platform,' he said.

The development comes days after Warring dismissed speculation about a rebellion within the party. He maintained that the Congress remained united and said he was not in the race for the chief minister's post. 'The Congress is united. Our rivals can dream on, but nothing is going to happen. Channi, Warring and all others will be seen together, fighting the battle for Punjab. Channi is a respected senior leader, our brother and the campaign committee chairman. The colour of rebellion was given by rival political parties, which portrayed it as a challenge to the Congress high command,' he said.

Last week, the Congress high command announced a major organisational reshuffle in Punjab, retaining Warring as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president while appointing Channi as chairman of the Campaign Committee. This move was widely seen as an attempt to balance competing factions within the state unit. According to a statement from AICC general secretary K C Venugopal, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge approved the appointments with immediate effect.