The revolt in the Punjab Congress over the issue of appointments in the state unit ahead of Punjab Vidhan Sabha elections slated for early next year may cost the Grand Old Party dearly. A few months back, Congress, the principal opposition party in Punjab, was perceived to be the favourite and in the driving seat for the 2027 elections but internal factionalism followed by open revolt seems to have ‘diminished’ the prospects of the party winning the elections.
A Familiar Congress Script
Unfortunately, it has now become a tradition in Congress that just before the elections or even in the midst of polls, over-ambitious Congress leaders, keeping their interest above the party, indulge in activities that lead the party into the doldrums with the final outcome going the rival party’s way. Haryana is a case in point. The disappearance of Kumari Selja from election campaign for almost a week was enough to dent the party that eventually lost the election to the BJP despite the fact that it was almost predicted by all poll pundits that Congress was all set to win Haryana.
The Power of Organisational Discipline
However, after the Haryana debacle, there was a lot of brainstorming in the AICC on how to inculcate discipline in the party but it appears that so far, Rahul Gandhi has not been able to find a concrete solution. If one draws parallels with BJP, it is totally the opposite. In the saffron party, politics starts from discipline. One reason is that the majority of BJP leaders, who get grooming in RSS or come from ABVP, are already trained in such a manner that they are told discipline is supreme. Two: the party’s structure is such that anyone who even dares to create indiscipline is dealt with in such a manner that he/she has to sit on the bench. Varun Gandhi, Vasundhara Raje Scindia and many others are glaring examples of how the party teaches a lesson to those who create indiscipline. And probably this is the reason that today NDA is ruling 22 states/UTs, with BJP alone having governments in 17 states, besides a third term at the centre.
Decisions Without Discord
Notably, in Gujarat, as many as 16 ministers were dropped from the State Government overnight without a murmur and fresh faces replaced them, but not even a single leader uttered anything against the party. Likewise, in Delhi, everyone knew that Parvesh Sahib Singh, son of late Sahib Singh Verma, was the favourite for the post of Chief Minister, but the party brought a surprise by appointing a lady Chief Minister, Rekha Gupta.
Rewarding Performance, Not Seniority
Take the example of Union Ministers. In Modi 3.0, Anurag Thakur, Narayan Rane and Parshottam Rupala, etc., were dropped by BJP on the basis of their poor performance. Furthermore, Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, who was Minister in Modi’s first term as Prime Minister, was not retained in the Modi 2.0. Later, in December 2023, Rathore was asked to shift to State Politics. Rathore resigned from the Lok Sabha and took oath as a Cabinet Minister in the Rajasthan Government. Can anyone in Congress dare to take such drastic decisions? The strength of the BJP’s organisational electoral model lies in this very principle.
Redefining Political Leadership
Furthermore, in Rajasthan, hardly anyone had imagined that first-time MLA Bhajan Lal Sharma would be entrusted with the coveted post of Chief Minister. The decision conveyed that even a first-time MLA could become Chief Minister, instilling confidence among legislators that multiple terms in the Assembly are not a prerequisite for the state’s top post. Instead, the BJP has signalled that merit, organisational ability and political suitability carry greater weight. The move also reflects the party’s broader strategy of expanding its social base by ensuring representation across different sections of society and leadership profiles, including women, OBCs, the general category and other communities.
Beyond Dynasty Politics
BJP’s political mantra is that every deserving leader should get an opportunity. The party has sought to convey that leadership positions should not remain confined to the same families or individuals, generation after generation, whether as Chief Ministers or Union Ministers. Once the leadership arrives at a decision, it is generally implemented without ambiguity or prolonged internal wrangling. Though many in the Congress tag the saffron party as a political outfit of ‘dictators’. But the harsh reality is that it is not a party of dictators, but those running the affairs do not hesitate to take bold decisions and give every performer his/her due.
Punjab’s Biggest Political Blunder
Coming back to the mess Congress has created in Punjab. During the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, Congress was comfortably placed under the leadership of Capt Amarinder as CM and Sunil Jakhar as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president. The party was poised to win at least 45 to 50 seats, maybe not the absolute majority but at least the single largest party. At that time, just based on the feedback of the then Punjab Congress Affairs in-charge, Harish Rawat and a few others convinced Rahul Gandhi that replacing Capt. Amarinder with Charanjit Singh Channi and Jakhar with Navjot Singh Sidhu would do wonders. The result ended in one of the most humiliating defeats for the Congress. While AAP swept the state and created history by winning 92 seats, Congress was reduced to just 18 in the Punjab Assembly.
A Rare Display of Unity
Meanwhile, the Congress had recently made a visible effort to project organisational discipline. The smooth transition of power in Karnataka signalled that the party is capable of carrying out major organisational and governmental changes without prolonged turmoil, sending a message that leadership transitions can be managed in an orderly manner.
A Battle Like Never Before
Punjab, however, presents a completely different political landscape from five years ago. The state appears to be headed for a multi‑cornered contest involving AAP, Congress, BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal, Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit) and Waris Punjab De contesting elections. Speculation is rife that MP Amritpal Singh’s Waris Punjab De may either contest on its own or forge a pre‑poll alliance with a breakaway Akali faction. If it chooses to go solo, Punjab could witness a six‑cornered electoral battle. Even if Waris Punjab De enters into a pre‑poll alliance with Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjit), the state would still witness at least five major political formations fielding candidates across all 117 Assembly constituencies.
Punjab’s Biggest Electoral Face-Off
Assuming that all five principal political formations contest every seat, nearly 585 candidates from the major parties alone would be in the fray, excluding Independents and nominees of smaller parties. Such a fragmented contest would be unprecedented in Punjab’s electoral history, making the 2027 Assembly election one of the state’s most fiercely contested political battles.
Punjab Congress at War with Itself
Coming back to the Punjab Congress. As on date, the party has suffered a major setback, with senior leaders openly at loggerheads following the announcement of the new organisational appointments and the decision to retain Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as the PPCC president. Although Rahul Gandhi has adopted a firm stance this time, making it categorically clear that those unwilling to function as part of a united team would be asked to sit on the bench, the infighting has shown little sign of abating. The situation has reached a point where, even after the announcement of the election-related committees and the high command’s clear message on party discipline, several Congress leaders have continued to defy the leadership and remain locked in bitter public feuds, exposing deep factional divisions within the state unit.
Chief Minister First, Party Later?
While the Congress high command has been making sustained efforts to resolve the Punjab unit’s crisis, the situation appears to have deteriorated further, with the party’s daily political infighting continuing to dominate media headlines. The prolonged public spectacle has reinforced a perception among many voters that several Congress leaders are more preoccupied with the race for the Chief Minister’s post than with presenting a united alternative to the electorate.
The Question Before Punjab
In politics, perception often becomes reality. If the Congress fails to restore discipline and demonstrate collective leadership well before the 2027 Assembly elections, it risks allowing a simple but damaging question to take root in the public mind: if the party cannot put its own house in order, how can it be expected to govern Punjab effectively?
(The author is the Editor of the website www.thenewsgateway.com. Views expressed are personal.)