NEW DELHI: Congress‘ internal rift in Punjab showed no signs of easing on Saturday after supporters of former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi disrupted two party programmes by raising slogans in his favour, prompting AICC general secretary in charge of Punjab Bhupesh Baghel to warn that anyone indulging in indiscipline would be expelled from the party.The slogan shouting took place during the Congress’ ‘Har Booth, Congress Mazboot’ programmes in Patiala and Sangrur, where Baghel, Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and several senior leaders were present.Despite the disruption, Baghel reiterated that the Congress high command would decide the party’s chief ministerial face only after the Punjab Assembly elections, due early next year.
Channi supporters disrupt Congress meetings
The disruption began in Patiala soon after Warring started addressing party workers. Channi’s supporters raised slogans including “Charanjit Singh Channi Zindabad”, “Channi Teri Soch Te Pehra Deyange Thok Ke” and “Channi Liyao, Punjab Bachao”, briefly bringing the programme to a halt.A visibly upset Warring repeatedly appealed to workers to maintain discipline and allow the meeting to continue but the slogan shouting persisted for some time before proceedings resumed.Senior Congress leaders, including Baghel, MP Amar Singh and Brahm Mohindra, witnessed the developments while other leaders attempted to calm the workers.Similar scenes unfolded later in Sangrur, where another group of Channi supporters raised slogans in favour of the former chief minister and against Baghel. Tensions escalated after some of Channi’s supporters clashed verbally with other Congress workers.One supporter demanded that the Jalandhar MP be declared the Congress’ chief ministerial face, claiming it reflected the wishes of party workers.However, Warring dismissed suggestions that Channi had orchestrated the protests.“Channi did not send these people. He is our crown,” Warring said in Sangrur, while alleging that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) had sent people to disrupt the Congress programme.
Baghel says CM face will be decided after polls
Addressing party workers, Baghel urged leaders to remain united and focus on defeating the ruling AAP, the BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal instead of engaging in internal rivalries.He made it clear that the Congress leadership, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge and leader of opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, would decide the chief ministerial candidate and ministers only after the Assembly elections.“Smaller differences are part of every party which can be sorted out for the bigger battle that the Congress has to fight against AAP, BJP and Akalis,” Baghel said.He expressed confidence that the Congress would emerge stronger in the Assembly elections because everyone shared the common objective of bringing the party back to power in Punjab.Baghel also underlined the importance of strengthening the party at the booth level, saying a strong grassroots organisation would be key to electoral success.
Warning on indiscipline
Later, speaking to reporters in Patiala, Baghel issued a stern warning against indiscipline.“Whosoever indulges in indiscipline will be shown the door from the party irrespective of the position one holds,” he said, citing the earlier expulsion of Navjot Kaur Sidhu as an example.When asked whether the party would initiate action against Channi, Baghel responded by asking what mistake the former chief minister had committed.Warring, meanwhile, announced that former MLA Madan Lal Jalalpur had been suspended for remarks against senior Congress leaders.Rejecting reports that some leaders had stayed away from district committee meetings, Baghel said all leaders had been informed about the programmes and were participating as their schedules permitted.
Warring stresses organisation over individuals
In his address, Warring stressed that no leader, regardless of popularity, could win elections without a strong organisational structure.He cited the example of late Punjabi singer Sidhu Moosewala, saying that despite his immense popularity, he lost the 2022 Assembly election by over 60,000 votes because of inadequate booth-level management.Warring also said his only wish was to see a Congress chief minister and ministers taking oath after the next Assembly elections, adding that he would be happy to watch the swearing-in ceremony from the audience.He described senior leaders including Channi, Partap Singh Bajwa, Rajinder Kaur Bhattal and Brahm Mohindra as more experienced and capable than himself, and assured workers that all senior leaders would soon be seen sharing one platform ahead of the polls.
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Factionalism persists ahead of Punjab polls
The latest developments indicate continuing factionalism within the Punjab Congress despite repeated assurances from the party leadership that organisational unity is being strengthened ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.Baghel is currently touring the poll-bound state as part of the ‘Har Booth, Congress Mazboot’ campaign, meeting district and block-level leaders after launching the initiative in Fatehgarh Sahib and Mohali on Friday.Baghel had earlier dismissed reports of factionalism, claiming that the media and a few individuals were creating a perception of infighting.However, discontent within the state unit has continued since the Congress retained Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as Punjab Congress president while appointing Channi as chairman of the campaign committee.A section of leaders led by Channi and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa had opposed Warring’s continuation as state chief and sought his removal.
