Former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi visited Delhi on Saturday, fueling speculation about efforts to resolve the political deadlock in the Punjab Congress unit, sources told The Tribune. The dissident camp, which staged a major show of strength at Channi's Morinda residence on Friday, is waiting for a response from the party high command and shows no intention of backing down from its demand for a change in state leadership.
Show of Strength at Channi's Residence
On Friday, Channi's residence became the epicenter of political activity as around 23 former and sitting Congress MLAs, four former ministers, and several senior party leaders gathered in a coordinated display of solidarity with the former CM. The meeting occurred after the party high command decided to retain Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president, despite expectations that Channi would be given the role to lead the state unit into the 2027 Assembly elections.
Leaders from the dissident camp stated they are not prepared to accept Raja Warring's continuation as state Congress chief. "The cadre wants a clear face for the Chief Minister's post in whose name they can seek votes during the Assembly elections," said a leader aligned with the Channi camp, speaking on condition of anonymity. They argued that the current arrangement has failed to energize grassroots workers and that the party leadership must address these concerns before election preparations intensify.
Back-Channel Communications Begin
According to sources close to the former CM, back-channel communication has started between dissident leaders and members of the Congress high command. However, no formal talks have taken place yet. Sources indicated that meaningful discussions are likely only after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi returns from his visit to the United States.
In contrast to Friday's activity, Channi's residence was quiet on Saturday. The political battle has shifted to social media, where supporters of both factions are openly defending their positions. Supporters of PPCC president Raja Warring claim that only a small section of Congress leaders attended Friday's gathering and that the majority supports the high command's decision. Meanwhile, Channi's supporters remain firm on their demand for a change in state leadership, with leaders close to the former CM suggesting the dissident group could adopt a tougher stand if the central leadership ignores their concerns.
Channi Maintains Silence
Throughout these developments, Channi has maintained complete silence. Despite repeated phone calls and WhatsApp messages from The Tribune on Saturday, the former Chief Minister did not respond. The dissident camp has stopped short of spelling out their future course of action but indicated that the coming days will be crucial, depending on the response from the central leadership.
All eyes are now on the Congress high command. Whether the leadership succeeds in bridging the widening divide or the rebellion hardens further could significantly shape the party's preparedness for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
