Chandigarh, January 22
The Congress high command today delivered a stern warning to the Punjab unit, making it clear that “indiscipline” will not be tolerated. Speaking to the mediapersons after Indian National Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi convened a meeting with the top brass of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) in the national capital today evening, AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C.Venugopal said that party’s internal affairs should not be discussed in public domain. According to reliable sources in the Congress, silencing all buzz around Amarinder Singh Raja Warring’s ouster, the AICC has firmly told Punjab leaders that the PCC chief stays put—for now, there will be no shake‑up in the state leadership.
After the three-hour meeting that was primarily called to curb factionalism in the Punjab Unit of Congress, AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C.Venugopal and former Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh and current General Secretary In-Charge of Punjab Bhupesh Baghel briefed the media. Addressing the media, Venugopal categorically said, “Any leader airing internal matters in the media or giving bytes to social media platforms will face swift and decisive action.”
In reply to a media query that as many as 30 Congress leaders from Punjab have sent a signed letter to Rahul Gandhi, Venugopal said, “This is unacceptable. Whosoever wants to meet Rahul Gandhi and others in AICC can take an appointment but this type of signature campaigns are totally uncalled for.” He also said that whatever the issues are will only be discussed on the party platforms, adding, “Party has given clear directions to Punjab leaders to refrain from issuing any statement to the media or giving social media bytes.”
Terming the meeting as fruitful, Venugopal said that the Punjab Assembly Election due for 2027 will be fought under collective leadership. “Whatever decisions have to be taken, whether finalising party candidates for assembly polls or campaign committee chief, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge will take them at an appropriate time”, he said. Baghel also reiterated that Congress will contest the Punjab Assembly election as a collective unit.
Meanwhile, according to party insiders, during the meeting, Channi was reprimanded for his utterances, wherein he had reportedly questioned why Dalits—who make up nearly 35–40 per cent of Punjab’s population—are missing from key leadership roles. “Taking the stock of the whole situation, the party high command not just snubbed Channi but was conveyed not to repeat this mistake in the future,” said a close confidant of Baghel.
It is pertinent to mention that amid escalating factional rifts and mounting voices of dissent within the Punjab Congress, the party’s highest leadership, including INC President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, had to step in and subsequently call an urgent meeting of Punjab Congress leaders today.
Apart from Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, K.C.Venugopal and former Union Minister of Information & Broadcasting Ambika Soni, the meeting was attended by PPCC president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Leader of Opposition in Punjab Legislative Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa, former Chief Minister of Punjab and Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi, former Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab and AICC General Secretary In-Charge for Rajasthan Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, former Speaker of Punjab Legislative Assembly Rana KP Singh, former PWD Minister, Punjab and ex-MP (Sangrur) Vijay Inder Singla and Congress MP from Fatehgarh Sahib Amar Singh.
