Former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi convened a massive gathering of Congress party workers at his residence in Morinda, Chamkaur Sahib, on Friday, showcasing his political clout amid growing discontent over the party's recent office-bearer appointments. The meeting, seen as a response to the newly released list of Congress office bearers, drew at least two current MLAs from the Doaba region, while several prominent leaders remained absent.
Attendees and Absentees
Among those who marked their presence were Kapurthala MLA Rana Gurjit Singh and Shahkot MLA Hardev Singh Ladi Sherowalia. Other attendees included District Urban Jalandhar President Rajinder Beri, Nakodar Halka Incharge Navjot Dahia, and Kartarpur Halka Incharge Rajinder Singh. However, 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 the absentee MLAs declined to comment.
Underlying Discontent
The meeting was organized to channel dissatisfaction among party workers over the appointments made by the party high command, with an eye on the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. A senior Jalandhar leader who did not attend, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, "I don't have anything to say about the meeting. Only the ones who attended can say what they had in mind. They may have misgivings, which they aired on 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 had expected a change in the party president's name. The rest are all contributing factors."
Mixed Reactions from Leaders
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."
In contrast, Shahkot MLA Hardev Singh Ladi Sherowalia, an attendee, defended the gathering: "Some people are giving negative connotations to the meeting, but it was just a meeting of leaders who had been raising various issues with Channi Sahib as a campaign committee head for the past 2-3 days. Today, he gave time to all of them on a common platform so that these can 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 strongly for elections. Channi Sahib has listened to us; he will speak to the high command. People of the state want to see him. So under him, we must resolve all our issues."
Implications for 2027 Elections
The meeting underscores the factionalism within the Punjab Congress as the party gears up for the 2027 Assembly elections. Channi's move to rally workers signals his intent to remain a key figure, while the absence of several Doaba MLAs highlights divisions that could impact the party's electoral performance. The discontent over office-bearer appointments reflects broader dissatisfaction with the party leadership, with many workers expecting changes at the top.
