Chandigarh: With around eight months left before the Punjab Assembly elections, factionalism within the Punjab Congress has intensified. Former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi has reached Delhi with a report detailing objections to recent statements made by Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, while senior leaders await the return of Rahul Gandhi, who is expected back from abroad on Tuesday.

Channi is likely to meet the Congress high command along with MPs Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Pargat Singh to discuss the growing internal differences within the state unit.

Channi Camp Raises Concerns Before High Command

The Channi faction has reportedly prepared a detailed report claiming that Raja Warring’s recent statements have caused political damage to the party. The leaders are expected to present their concerns before the Congress leadership in Delhi.

The developments come days after Channi skipped a meeting convened by Punjab Congress in-charge Bhupesh Baghel, signalling his dissatisfaction with the party’s recent organisational decisions.

Raja Warring Calls for Unity

Amid the growing internal rift, Raja Warring has projected a message of unity. Sharing photographs from meetings with senior leaders on social media, he stressed that “unity is strength” and maintained that there is no factionalism within the Punjab Congress.

Warring said all senior leaders would fight the next Assembly elections together and insisted that his focus remains on bringing the Congress back to power in Punjab rather than any race for the chief minister’s post.

He also warned that disciplinary action would be taken against leaders indulging in anti-party activities or making public statements that violate party discipline.

Action Begins Against Channi Supporters

The party has also initiated disciplinary proceedings against some leaders aligned with the Channi camp.

Punjab Congress Disciplinary Committee Chairman and Jalandhar North MLA Bawa Henry has issued a notice to former MLA Madan Lal Jalalpur, seeking his explanation within three days over alleged indiscipline.

Bhupesh Baghel Holds Meetings with Punjab Leaders

Punjab Congress in-charge Bhupesh Baghel, who has begun a five-day visit to the state, met Congress Legislature Party leader Partap Singh Bajwa soon after arriving in Chandigarh before holding separate discussions with Raja Warring and senior leader Vijay Inder Singla.

Baghel said he would meet leaders from all factions over the next few days and assured that any grievances raised would be considered seriously by the party leadership.

How the Rift Escalated

The current round of infighting began after the Congress high command announced its organisational structure for the upcoming Assembly elections on July 1.

While Raja Warring was retained as Punjab Congress president, Charanjit Singh Channi was appointed Chairman of the Campaign Committee. Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa was named chairman of the Core Committee, Vijay Inder Singla was given charge of the Election Management and Coordination Committee, and Dr Amar Singh was appointed chairman of the Manifesto Committee.

Soon after the announcement, Channi held meetings with his supporters in Morinda and later in Mohali, indicating his dissatisfaction with Warring’s continuation as state president. The dispute widened after supporters of former Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu also questioned the leadership arrangement.

Leaders React to the Crisis

While Channi has refrained from directly attacking the leadership, he has used social media to describe meetings with supporters as efforts to convey the sentiments of Punjab workers to the Congress high command.

Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa questioned the purpose of extensive consultations if the final decision had already been made, saying the exercise appeared meaningless.

Partap Singh Bajwa acknowledged that there were shortcomings in the party’s recent decisions but expressed confidence that they would be addressed soon.

With Rahul Gandhi returning to Delhi and senior Punjab leaders gathering in the national capital, the Congress high command is expected to make fresh efforts to resolve the internal differences and prevent further damage ahead of the Assembly elections.