Punjab Congress revolt deepens; 92 constituency leaders seek Raja Warring's removal
Party leaders demand Charanjit Channi as state president
CHANDIGARH: The internal crisis in the Punjab Congress has intensified, with leaders representing all 92 Assembly constituencies rallying behind former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and demanding the immediate removal of Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president.
The dissident group held a crucial meeting with Bhupesh Baghel, during which senior leaders conveyed that Warring had allegedly lost the confidence of a large section of the state leadership and could no longer effectively lead the party into the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
The delegation included Channi, former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, senior MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh, former minister Pargat Singh, former minister Raj Kumar Verka, senior Congress leader Sangat Singh Khilgian, and Balkaur Singh, father of late Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala, among several other district and constituency leaders. Partap Singh Bajwa leader of opposition also attended the meeting. However Raja Warring stayed away from the meeting.
Leaders question Warring's leadership
According to sources present at the meeting, the leaders told Baghel that Raja Warring had become a "compromised leader" and was therefore unable to aggressively take on the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government.
Several leaders referred to the controversy surrounding Warring's tenure as Punjab's Transport Minister in the Congress government headed by former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh. They pointed out that after coming to power in 2022, the AAP government had publicly threatened to expose the alleged bus transport "scandal" linked to Warring's ministerial tenure. The dissidents argued that such issues had weakened his political position and affected his ability to lead the opposition effectively.
The leaders maintained that the Congress required a strong and uncompromised state president capable of rebuilding the organisation, energising workers and mounting an aggressive campaign against the Bhagwant Mann-led government.
Baghel assures leaders of conveying concerns
Bhupesh Baghel is learnt to have patiently heard the grievances of the delegation and assured them that he would convey their sentiments to the Congress high command before any final decision is taken on the organisational structure in Punjab.
The meeting is being viewed as the biggest show of strength by the anti-Warring camp since the Congress leadership initiated consultations on revamping the Punjab unit.
Leadership issue had surfaced last month
The latest developments come barely weeks after the Congress high command summoned Punjab leaders to New Delhi individually to seek their opinion on the future leadership of the state unit.
According to party sources, a majority of those consulted had favoured replacing Raja Warring as PPCC president. Former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi had emerged as one of the strongest contenders for the post.
However, after deliberations, the Congress leadership decided to retain Raja Warring as the state president while appointing Channi as the chairman of the party's campaign committee, a move that failed to satisfy many senior leaders.
Randhawa signals continued pressure
Speaking after the meeting, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa indicated that the dissident camp was unlikely to soften its stand.
"We cannot accept a compromised leader. The party needs leadership that can fight fearlessly against the ruling government and unite Congress workers," Randhawa told reporters after meeting Baghel.
His remarks make it clear that the rebellion within the Punjab Congress is far from over and that pressure on the party's central leadership is likely to intensify in the coming days.
Fresh challenge for Congress
The renewed revolt comes at a time when the Congress is attempting to reorganise its Punjab unit after successive electoral setbacks. While the high command has so far backed Raja Warring, the latest mobilisation of leaders from across the state's Assembly constituencies is expected to increase pressure on the party to revisit its decision.
With the 2027 Assembly elections drawing closer, the leadership dispute threatens to overshadow the Congress' efforts to emerge as the principal challenger to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab.
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