BJP Takes Aim at Congress Over Internal Rebellion in Punjab
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday questioned whether the Congress leadership possesses the courage to take disciplinary action against rebel leaders in Punjab. This comes after a faction within the Punjab Congress openly rallied behind former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, demanding his reinstatement as the state unit chief.
Faction Emerges Within Punjab Congress
On Friday, several sitting and former MLAs of the Congress party in Punjab expressed their support for Channi, urging the high command to reconsider him for the post of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president. The move signals a significant internal rift, as Channi was removed from the chief minister's post in 2022 following the party's electoral defeat.
The BJP's state unit seized on the development, with spokesperson Vineet Joshi stating, "The Congress is in complete disarray. If the party leadership cannot control its own MLAs, how can it claim to govern the state? The question now is whether the Gandhis have the will to act against these rebels or if they will allow the party to fragment further."
Political Implications and Impact
Political analysts view this as a major challenge for the Congress, which has been struggling to maintain unity in Punjab after losing power to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in 2022. Channi, a Dalit leader, enjoys support from a section of the party, particularly among Scheduled Caste communities. His supporters argue that his removal was unjust and that he deserves a second chance to lead the state unit.
As of now, the Congress high command has not issued any official response to the demand. Meanwhile, the BJP continues to capitalize on the discord, aiming to strengthen its position in the state ahead of the next assembly elections.
