The Congress party is witnessing a sense of deja vu in Delhi as it intensifies deliberations for a leadership change in Punjab, with uncanny similarities to the 2021 transition that replaced Captain Amarinder Singh with Charanjit Singh Channi as chief minister. Sources indicate that the All India Congress Committee (AICC) has again appointed Ajay Maken, along with Meenakshi Natarajan, as central observer to recommend changes to the Punjab Congress leadership structure, aiming to make the state unit battle-ready for the 2027 assembly elections.
Echoes of 2021 Transition
In September 2021, the AICC initiated the transition in Punjab with Ajay Maken as central observer alongside Harish Chaudhary, then party in-charge for the state. That exercise led to Channi becoming the first Dalit chief minister of Punjab, despite a majority of MLAs having voted for Sunil Jakhar. A Congress insider involved in the 2021 transition revealed that veteran leader Ambika Soni insisted Punjab should have a Sikh chief minister, a view supported by Sonia Gandhi, which sidelined Jakhar. This decision eventually led to Sunil Jakhar joining the BJP in May 2022.
Lessons from Past Mistakes
Congress sources acknowledge that the 2021 exercise boomeranged, contributing to the party's poor performance in the 2022 state elections. A senior Congress leader involved with Punjab affairs expressed hope that the party would not repeat the 2022 outcome this time. The current deliberations also consider installing a Hindu leader as state unit chief, with former minister Vijayinder Singla emerging as a contender. However, the BJP's appointment of Kewal Dhillon has forced a calculated rethink, as the BJP actively woos OBCs and Dalits, challenging Congress's traditional support base.
An AICC source emphasized that any leadership change must factor in rival strategies and maintain a delicate balancing act. Rahul Gandhi's involvement in the talks—meeting senior leaders Amrinder Raja Warring, Partap Bajwa, Sukhjinder Randhawa, Charanjit Channi, and Vijayinder Singla in Delhi—underscores the state's importance to Congress's electoral landscape. The party is currently in power on its own only in Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, and Kerala, and in alliance in Jharkhand and Tamil Nadu, making Punjab a key target for boosting its presence.
Way Forward
The final decision on Punjab's leadership structure will depend on Rahul Gandhi's assessment and the recommendations of Ajay Maken. Congress insiders hope the party learns from past errors and avoids a repeat of 2022, ensuring a unified and battle-ready unit for the upcoming assembly polls.
