Change of leadership in Punjab Congress
Amid continued infighting in the Punjab Congress, state party in-charge Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday joked that the change in leadership was “not a child’s play” as he said he had submitted a report to the high command on the party’s situation in the state heading towards elections.
“I visited Punjab for six days where I met the leaders and heard from all of them, including in the Punjab Congress office and during individual meetings. After holding discussions with the Punjab leaders, I submitted my report to AICC General Secretary (Organization) KC Venugopal,” Baghel told the media in Delhi.
When asked if there was a change in the Punjab Congress, Baghel said: “Have you spoken to Rahul Gandhi? Let the newspapers write what they want. I have already said what I had to say… I have no control over the stories you publish. Go ahead and do what you want… This is not a child’s play.”
The report assumes importance at a time when the Punjab unit of the Congress party remains divided, with former Prime Minister Charanjit Singh Channi keen to head the party while the party high command prefers Amarinder Singh Raja Waring.
The former CM faction claimed that Waring is not a popular face and that Chani, a Dalit Sikh, should lead the Punjab unit of the party.
Chaney was appointed chairman of the campaign committee, the most powerful position in the run-up to the election, a senior leader familiar with the details said.
“Ashok Gehlot was the head of the campaign committee before he became the chief minister of Rajasthan in 2018. Siddaramaiah, who was chief minister of Karnataka for two terms, led the campaign committee on both occasions. Even Narendra Modi was the head of the BJP’s campaign committee in 2014,” said a senior leader considered close to Waring.
Rajnath Singh later replaced Modi after the latter was announced as the face of the Prime Minister.
A central Congress leader also pointed out that Chani was offered the post of Secretary General in 2025, but he turned it down as he wanted to continue focusing on Punjab.
Chaney had replaced Captain Amrinder Singh ahead of the 2022 Assembly elections, which AAP won.
After returning from abroad on Tuesday, Gandhi held a crucial meeting with party chief Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi, and is learned to have discussed the leadership crisis ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled early next year.
Gandhi and Karji summoned Baghel to Delhi, where he is likely to hold discussions with the high command on Wednesday to find an amicable solution to the leadership crisis.
According to sources, Gandhi is ready to listen to the views of Punjab leaders and is keen to suppress infighting within the state unit as soon as possible.
The party leadership is worried that the Congress will not be able to head to the Assembly elections as infighting continues in the state unit.
The Congress high command’s decision to retain Amarinder Singh Raja Waring as Punjab unit chief has sparked dissidence within the state unit, with senior leaders, including former Prime Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Randhawa, openly opposing the move.
Baghel, the former chief minister of Chhattisgarh, spent the last few days in Punjab meeting various leaders to take stock of the situation.
Another senior leader also added that an independent panel led by Congress treasurer Ajay Maken has recommended that Raja Warang should continue.
After Baghel submitted his report, Congress legislative party leader Partap Singh Bajwa also met Venugopal.
