Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The leadership tussle within the Punjab Congress remained unresolved on Thursday, with former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi continuing to stay away from meetings convened by AICC Punjab affairs in-charge Bhupesh Baghel. The prolonged deadlock has prompted speculation that the party’s central leadership may soon step in to broker a compromise between the rival camps.
Baghel has been holding discussions with senior party leaders in Chandigarh for several days to address organisational issues and prepare the state unit for upcoming political challenges. However, Channi has not participated in any of these interactions, signalling that differences within the party remain far from settled.
Sources familiar with the developments said the Channi camp has conveyed that it is not opposed to dialogue but wants discussions to be held under mutually acceptable conditions. The faction reportedly prefers a meeting at a neutral location and believes the interaction should remain limited to select representatives rather than a larger organisational gathering.
The absence of Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring from any such meeting has also been projected as a key demand by leaders close to Channi, according to party insiders.
Despite the ongoing impasse, both sides have avoided making aggressive public statements, indicating that backchannel communication remains active. Senior leaders are reportedly exploring ways to reduce tensions without deepening factional divisions.
Political observers believe Channi’s decision to avoid direct engagement with Baghel is aimed at preserving his political leverage. They argue that the former Chief Minister is likely to place greater emphasis on discussions with the Congress high command, particularly Rahul Gandhi, before making any strategic political move.
At the same time, Raja Warring has continued to strengthen his organisational grip by actively participating in meetings and interacting with party workers alongside Baghel. The ongoing consultations have also included several veteran Congress leaders, reflecting the leadership’s effort to build consensus across different factions.
Analysts say the episode has evolved beyond a personal disagreement and now reflects a broader contest over leadership, organisational control and ticket distribution ahead of future elections.
According to political experts, the Congress leadership faces the challenge of balancing competing power centres without allowing internal rivalries to weaken the party’s prospects in Punjab. They believe an early resolution will be crucial to prevent organisational uncertainty from affecting the party’s preparations on the ground.
For now, Baghel’s outreach exercise continues, while Channi’s camp appears to be waiting for direct engagement with the central leadership. Whether the differences are resolved through negotiation or require intervention from Delhi is expected to become clearer in the coming days.
