In a significant show of solidarity, senior leaders of the Punjab Congress have come together to project a united front, aiming to quell internal factionalism and recent electoral setbacks. The leaders have emphatically stated that the party's singular objective is to regain power in the state in the 2027 Assembly elections, and all crucial decisions regarding leadership will be made by the central high command.
Unity and Discipline as the Central Pillars
Addressing a 'MGNREGA Bachao' rally, former deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa set the tone for the party's renewed focus. He declared that no individual within the state unit is vying for the chief minister's position. "We want Congress rule in Punjab. All leadership-related decisions will be taken by Bhupesh Baghel and the high command and will be accepted by the state unit," Randhawa asserted.
He dismissed persistent talks of groupism within the party, maintaining that the Punjab Congress operates strictly under the directives of the central leadership, which includes party president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leader Rahul Gandhi, and Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel. Randhawa stressed that discipline is non-negotiable for the party's proper functioning.
While acknowledging that factionalism has existed in the party historically, even during the eras of former chief ministers Giani Zail Singh and Darbara Singh, he insisted that only one group with "Congress DNA" prevails today. "There is no other group in the Congress," he stated firmly.
Leaders Reject CM Face Narrative, Alleged Political Vendetta
Echoing the unity pitch, Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring directly countered claims of there being "5 Chief Ministerial faces" within the party. He questioned the identity of these supposed faces and clarified that he himself is not a candidate for the top post. Warring described this narrative as propaganda spread by the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to tarnish the Congress's image.
Randhawa also raised serious allegations of political vendetta, claiming that party workers are being targeted through false and fabricated cases. He promised that such cases would not be lodged once a Congress government assumes power in the state. "The day workers get due respect, Congress will become alive again and emerge as a strong force," he added.
Internal Challenges and Electoral Setbacks
The strong statements on unity come against a backdrop of recurring public spats and controversies that have plagued the state unit. Recently, Dr. Navjot Kaur was suspended by the party after making controversial remarks, including allegations that money was taken in exchange for tickets and naming several senior leaders—Randhawa, Charanjit Singh Channi, Partap Singh Bajwa, and Warring—as claimants for the Chief Minister's post.
The party's need for introspection has been amplified by a string of poor performances in by-elections. The Congress recently suffered a demoralizing setback in the Tarn Taran Assembly bypoll, where it finished a distant fourth, even behind an Independent candidate. This marked the party's sixth loss in the last seven by-elections since the AAP formed the government in 2022, deepening unease within its ranks.
Amidst these challenges, some leaders have voiced support for the existing leadership. Amritsar MP Gurpreet Singh Aujla named Randhawa, Warring, former CM Charanjit Singh Channi, and LoP Partap Singh Bajwa as leaders who actively highlight public issues. Taking a swipe at rivals, Aujla noted that both AAP and BJP now have former Congress leaders in their ranks, calling the Congress a "nursery for developing strong political leaders."
As the principal challenger to the AAP, the Punjab Congress's attempt to present a cohesive front is a critical step in its long road to rebuilding organizational strength and grassroots morale ahead of the crucial 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
