Jalandhar Lok Sabha MP and former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi organized a show of strength at his residence in Morinda on July 4, 2026, but the event received little backing from his home constituency. Of the five Congress MLAs in Jalandhar, only one—Hardev Singh Laddi Sherowalia—attended to express solidarity. The other four MLAs—Pargat Singh, Sukhwinder Kotli, Vikramjit Chaudhary, and Bawa Henry—stayed away.
Dissent over PPCC chief post
Channi has reportedly been unhappy about not being appointed as the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief. The show of strength was seen as an attempt to demonstrate his influence within the party. However, the absence of key MLAs from his own turf signals internal friction. Notably, Kotli and Pargat had supported Channi during his 2024 Lok Sabha campaign from Jalandhar, but they also chose to skip the event.
Vikramjit Chaudhary's opposition
Vikramjit Chaudhary, who has openly opposed Channi since the 2024 elections, said, "We are with the high command on whatever decision it has taken." Pargat Singh had also been in the race for the PPCC presidency, adding to the rivalry. Congress leaders in Jalandhar believe that since Channi is already an MP and the party has clarified that MPs cannot contest Assembly elections, he should be satisfied with his role as Chairman of the Campaign Committee, which is a significant position.
Scrutiny by investigative agencies
Leaders also pointed out that Channi is under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate and Punjab Vigilance Bureau, which the party must consider before giving him a larger responsibility. Additionally, MLAs are reportedly unhappy with Channi's limited engagement in allocating MPLADS funds.
Support from lower-level functionaries
Despite the MLAs' absence, several halqa in-charges from Jalandhar attended the event, including Dr. Navjot Dahiya (Nakodar), Rajinder Singh (Kartarpur), Rajinder Beri (Jalandhar Central), and Karan Jallowal (Jalandhar West). Former MLA Surinder Chaudhary also showed support. The gathering highlighted a divide between senior MLAs and party workers in the region.
