All-India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge for Punjab Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday ruled out any rethink on the party high command's decision to retain the state leadership, even as several disgruntled leaders skipped a crucial meeting convened to address dissent triggered by a recent organisational reshuffle.
Baghel Sounds Poll Bugle for 2027
During the meeting held at the Punjab Congress Bhawan in Chandigarh, Baghel sounded the poll bugle for the 2027 Assembly elections, expressing confidence that the party was fully prepared for the electoral battle. He later told reporters that reports of discord in the state unit were unfounded and that the high command's decisions would remain unchanged.
“There is no resentment in the Congress. There is no need to revisit the decisions taken by the high command, and the party will not change them. Everything in the Punjab Congress is absolutely fine,” Baghel asserted.
Dissidents Skip Key Meeting
Senior leaders including former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Sukhjinder Randhawa, Pargat Singh, Sangat Singh Gilzian, Rana Gurjeet Singh, and OP Soni abstained from the party meetings. Sources close to the leaders indicated that the annoyed faction gave a cold response to calls for a meeting with Baghel.
Of the three working presidents, Sukhwinder Singh Danny and former minister Raj Kumar Verka attended the meeting and assumed their charge at the Congress office, while Sangat Singh Gilzian abstained.
Bagel's Fire-Fighting Diplomacy
Since arriving in Chandigarh on Monday evening, Baghel has been in fire-fighting mode, resorting to dinner diplomacy. He held meetings with Congress Legislative Party leader Partap Singh Bajwa, manifesto committee chairperson Amar Singh, election management and coordination committee head Vijay Inder Singla, former Speaker Rana KP Singh, co-chairman of the campaign committee Sukhpal Singh Khaira, co-chairperson of the manifesto committee Hardial Kambhoj, and co-chairman of the election management committee Kuljeet Nagra.
“Baghel is giving a clear message to the miffed leaders to fall in line and accept the party’s decision,” said a senior leader.
Divided House
The Punjab Congress office was abuzz with party leaders and supporters aligned with state unit chief Amarinder Singh Warring. “There is a clear division between the top leaders. While the Warring camp is going all out to show strength on the PPCC platform, the disgruntled leaders are holding their show of strength outside. This is giving a confusing signal to the party’s rank and file, and even to the voters,” said another senior leader.
Warring claimed that Baghel spoke to Channi and both leaders would meet in a day or two. Warring also said Randhawa would arrive for a meeting within a couple of days.
Bajwa acknowledged that some party leaders were dissatisfied over recent organisational decisions but dismissed speculation of a major split. He urged party leaders to remain united, recalling how he had stepped aside in the past for the party’s larger interest, and appealed to his colleagues to resolve their differences through dialogue.
