New Delhi, July 24
In what can only be described as the pinnacle of “political folly,” the AICC high command has handed Punjab Congress leaders such unchecked leverage that most of them, driven by personal ambition rather than party interest, are daily indulging in actions bound to wreck the party’s electoral prospects next year. The “circus” unfolding within the Grand Old Party (GOP) has effectively become an open playground for the BJP to penetrate Punjab’s political landscape.
Despite being fully aware of the saffron party’s razor‑sharp focus on the upcoming elections, the Congress high command appears utterly helpless. If Rahul Gandhi cannot put his own house in order in a relatively small state with just 117 seats — for the second consecutive time after the debacle of 2022 — one can only conclude that the Congress leadership has never been weaker.
From PPCC chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring to Charanjit Singh Channi, Sukhjinder Randhawa, and Partap Bajwa, leaders keep shifting their positions almost daily, damaging the party’s credibility and prospects. What makes the situation even more absurd is the underlying reason for their infighting: every senior leader in the Punjab Congress considers himself a Chief Ministerial contender.
During meetings with AICC general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal and Punjab Congress affairs in‑charge Bhupesh Baghel, these leaders repeatedly raised issues but simultaneously pledged unity. Yet, shockingly, the moment they step out of such meetings, contradictory statements pour in from different factions, handing the opposition a morale booster on a platter.
According to highly placed sources within the party, if the latest speculation about Channi and Randhawa quitting holds any truth, it would be a devastating blow to Congress’s prospects in the elections slated for early next year. Political observers point out that the party should have learned from West Bengal — considered to be the most hostile terrain for the BJP — but instead, Punjab Congress leaders seem trapped in a fool’s paradise, assuming that anti‑incumbency alone will automatically propel them to power. This is a dangerous misconception. The reality is stark: Punjab’s electoral arena is now wide open, and no party can confidently claim victory at this stage. One thing, however, is certain — the 2027 elections will be among the most riveting contests Punjab has ever witnessed.
(Views expressed are personal.)