Chandigarh, October 11
Amarinder Singh Raja Warring’s tenure as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president marked a dramatic turnaround for the party. Making these remarks while speaking to media persons on the sidelines of the oath-taking ceremony of newly appointed PPCC president Pargat Singh, former general Secretary of the Pradesh Congress Pawan Dewan said, “When Warring assumed charge, Congress was reduced to just 10 per cent strength. Through relentless effort—going street to street and mohalla to mohalla—Warring rebuilt the organisation, leading it to victories in corporation, municipal committee, zilla parishad elections besides securing seven Lok Sabha seats in Punjab.”
Dewan further said that Warring’s leadership style was hands-on, while adding, “Whenever conflicts arose among party workers, he was the first to reach the spot. Unlike his predecessors, he personally engaged with grassroots leaders, calling even block presidents and acknowledging hundreds of local representatives by name in meetings. His commitment stood out in a party where district presidents were often overlooked.”
Appreciating the hard work done by Warring for the party for four and a half years, Dewan said, “With decades of political work behind him—including stints as district Congress president, Youth Congress president and Punjab general secretary—Warring brought unmatched organisational experience.” He pointed out that the shift of focus towards Majha and Doaba has left Malwa adrift. “At a time when strong leadership was needed to reclaim Malwa, the Congress chose to move away from its most visible Malwa face. The timing, many believe, was not right. For a party that must win Malwa to return to power, disowning the region could prove to be a costly gamble,” concluded Dewan.