Chandigarh, October 2
With the dramatic ouster of Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief, the corridors of the Punjab Congress are abuzz with whispers of a clandestine understanding between AICC General Secretary in-charge of Punjab Congress Affairs Sachin Pilot and former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. Reliable sources suggest that since Randhawa holds the crucial position of AICC in-charge Rajasthan Congress Affairs, the two leaders may have forged a reciprocal pact.
According to this alleged consensus, Pilot, while overseeing Punjab, assured Randhawa that his report to the high command would recommend Warring’s removal. In return, Randhawa, wielding influence in Rajasthan, would push Pilot’s name forward, sidelining former CM Ashok Gehlot. If true, this behind-the-scenes maneuvering underscores a high-stakes power play within the Congress, where state leadership battles are increasingly shaped not just by grassroots politics but by strategic deals struck in the party’s upper echelons.
It is pertinent to mention here that while Sachin Pilot held one-on-one interactions with several Punjab Congress leaders, his foremost priority was a closed-door meeting with Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. A highly placed source revealed, “It was a good half-hour meeting between Sachin and Randhawa. During the discussion, it was decided that in Punjab, Sachin would support Randhawa and report to the high command that Warring must be removed. In return, Randhawa would recommend to the high command that the baton of Rajasthan Congress should now be handed over to Sachin.”
Although the precise details of what transpired remain unascertained, the buzz in Punjab Congress circles is unmistakable—there was a mutual understanding between Randhawa and Pilot that played a pivotal role in the removal of Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as PPCC chief. The timing and exclusivity of this meeting have only intensified speculation of a calculated power exchange, underscoring the deep undercurrents of strategic maneuvering within the party. Despite repeated attempts, neither Randhawa nor Pilot was available for comment, leaving the intrigue unresolved and the whispers of a “secret deal” echoing louder in the Congress corridors.