New Delhi, May 29
Punjab is set to hold Assembly elections next year in 2027. With this in mind, the Congress convened a major meeting in New Delhi on Friday. Party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, Punjab in‑charge general secretary Bhupesh Baghel, state president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, former Deputy CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and several senior leaders were present.
According to sources, sharp exchanges erupted between the central leadership and Punjab Congress leaders during the meeting. Punjab Congress chief Raja Warring was reportedly upset, while Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa reportedly was not unhappy with the way things were proceeding. “I have placed my views before the central leadership”, he said, before leaving the meeting.
The timing of the meeting was significant, as results of the municipal elections were declared the same day, with Congress performing poorly. Fingers were pointed at Warring, with several leaders telling the high command that those entrusted with responsibility could not even safeguard their home districts.
The differences came out in the open even though the meeting, called by Congress president Kharge and the Congress Working Committee (CWC), was meant to strengthen the party and resolve internal disputes. The backdrop was also important: the BJP recently replaced Sunil Jakhar with former Congress leader Kewal Singh Dhillon as its Punjab chief. The Congress leadership had hoped to unify its ranks but instead, the meeting exposed the deep fissures within the state unit.
