Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The ongoing power struggle within the Punjab Congress appears to have reached a critical stage, with the party’s central leadership expected to let Rahul Gandhi take the final call on the issue after weeks of consultations failed to produce a consensus.
According to party insiders, several rounds of discussions involving Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, organisation general secretary K.C. Venugopal and Punjab affairs in-charge Bhupesh Baghel have not succeeded in ending the standoff between rival camps in the state. With negotiations yielding little progress, Rahul Gandhi is now expected to personally decide the party’s next course of action.
Bhupesh Baghel has reportedly concluded his consultations and returned to Chhattisgarh after submitting his assessment to the party leadership. Sources say the report outlines the widening differences among Punjab leaders and the challenges facing the organisation ahead of future elections.
The leadership is believed to be particularly concerned over the open disagreement surrounding the organisational committees announced for Punjab. The committees, cleared by the Congress high command, faced resistance from a section of leaders led by former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, who reportedly questioned the selections and declined to participate in meetings called to discuss them.
Another issue that has drawn the attention of the central leadership is the reported insistence by the Channi camp on holding discussions only with senior leaders in Delhi instead of engaging with the state in-charge. Party sources suggest that this approach has not been viewed favourably, as it bypasses the organisational structure established by the high command.
The debate over the leadership of the Punjab Congress has further intensified the internal divide. While the central leadership has continued to express confidence in Punjab Congress chief Raja Warring, some leaders have openly questioned his leadership ahead of the next electoral contest.
Amid the uncertainty, Raja Warring has shifted focus to organisational strengthening by touring different parts of Punjab and interacting with local workers and office-bearers. His supporters maintain that the exercise is intended to keep the cadre united and election-ready despite the ongoing internal differences.
The Congress high command is also believed to have taken note of parallel political messaging emerging from within the state unit. A social media campaign highlighting Charanjit Singh Channi as the preferred face of the party reportedly surfaced while internal consultations were underway, a move that some senior leaders allegedly interpreted as an attempt to influence the decision-making process.
Party insiders say Rahul Gandhi is expected to review the developments, including feedback from senior leaders and organisational reports, before announcing any decision. Whether the leadership opts for reconciliation, restructuring or disciplinary action remains unclear, but the verdict is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the Congress strategy in Punjab in the months ahead.
