Channi's Show of Strength Falls Flat as Only Two MLAs Attend Morinda Meet
Former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi convened a large gathering of party workers at his residence in Morinda, Chamkaur Sahib, on Friday, in what was widely seen as a show of strength. However, the event exposed deepening fissures within the Congress party in the Doaba region, as only two sitting MLAs attended while five prominent legislators stayed away.
The meeting was called in response to the recently released list of Congress office-bearers, which has sparked widespread discontent among party workers and leaders ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Channi, who currently serves as the chairman of the party's campaign committee, aimed to rally support and address grievances.
Who Attended and Who Skipped
Among the legislators present were Rana Gurjeet Singh and Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia. Several other senior leaders also attended, including former Nawanshahr MLA Angad Saini, former Jalandhar district urban president Rajinder Beri, Nakodar halqa in-charge Navjot Dahia, and Kartarpur halqa in-charge Rajinder Singh.
Notable absentees included Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh, Bholath MLA Sukhpal Khaira, Jalandhar North MLA Bawa Henry, Adampur MLA Sukhwinder Kotli, and Phillaur MLA Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary. Most of those who skipped the meeting remained tight-lipped about their reasons.
Discontent Over Office-Bearers List
A senior Jalandhar leader, who did not attend the meeting, spoke on condition of anonymity: “I don’t have anything to say on the meeting. Only those who attended can say what they had in mind. They may have misgivings which they aired at a platform they deemed fit. These things could have been shared on the party’s internal platforms.”
Another Congress MLA added, “Ultimately, the list released by the party high command has undoubtedly sparked discontent. Many have a problem with the list. Party leaders and workers expected a change in the party president’s name. The rest are contributing factors.”
MLAs Defend Their Absence
Phillaur MLA Vikramjit Chaudhary, who skipped the meeting, said, “I was out playing golf all day. I have no interest in the meeting. The party has chosen some leaders after due diligence. When everyone came to a consensus, the party list was announced. I believe it’s time we abide by the party line and prepare for the elections.”
Shahkot MLA Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia, who attended, defended the gathering: “Some people are giving negative connotations to the meeting. It was just a meeting of leaders who have been raising various issues with Channi Sahib as campaign committee head for the past few days. Today he gave them time on a common platform so these issues could be aired at the high command level by him. It was an initiative aimed at dissolving ifs and buts and devising a joint strategy to fight the elections strongly. Channi Sahib has listened to us and he will speak to the high command. So, under him we must resolve all our issues.”
Underlying Tensions and Channi's Role
Congress leaders in Jalandhar believe that since Channi is already a Member of Parliament (MP) and the party has made it clear that MPs will not contest Assembly polls, he should be content with his role as campaign committee chairman. They argue that this position itself carries significant responsibility.
Additionally, some leaders point out that Channi is under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate and the Punjab Vigilance Bureau, and the party must factor in such considerations before assigning him a larger role. MLAs are reportedly unhappy with Channi's limited involvement in deciding the allocation of funds under the MPLADS (Members of Parliament Local Area Development Scheme) grants.
The Morinda meeting underscores the fragile unity within the Congress in Doaba, with factions emerging over leadership and strategy ahead of the crucial 2027 Assembly elections.
