PATIALA, Aug 1: The Punjab Congress’ efforts to project unity ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections suffered another setback on Saturday after supporters of former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi disrupted party programmes in Patiala and Sangrur by raising slogans in his favour, highlighting the ongoing leadership tussle within the state unit.
The slogan shouting took place during the Congress’ Har Booth, Congress Mazboot campaign in the presence of AICC general secretary and Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel, Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, and several senior party leaders.
As Warring began addressing party workers in Patiala, a section of supporters started chanting slogans backing Channi and demanding that he be projected as the party’s chief ministerial candidate. The repeated slogan shouting briefly interrupted the meeting despite Warring’s appeals to maintain discipline.
Senior leaders, including Baghel, watched the developments while local leaders attempted to calm the workers and restore order. Similar scenes unfolded later in Sangrur, where another group of Channi supporters raised slogans in favour of the former chief minister and criticised the state leadership, leading to heated exchanges between rival groups of party workers.
Responding to the developments, Baghel reiterated that the Congress high command would decide the party’s chief ministerial candidate and ministerial appointments only after the Assembly election results. He stressed that the organisation’s priority remained strengthening the party at the grassroots rather than engaging in leadership debates before the polls.
Issuing a strong warning against indiscipline, Baghel said no leader or worker would be spared if found violating party discipline, regardless of position or seniority. He maintained that the Congress would take appropriate action against anyone harming organisational unity.
Baghel also appealed for collective efforts to ensure the party’s return to power in Punjab, stating that internal differences were common in political organisations but should not overshadow the larger objective of challenging the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, the BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal.
Addressing workers, Warring emphasised that electoral success depends on a strong booth level organisation rather than the popularity of individual leaders. He urged party members to focus on strengthening the organisation across constituencies instead of engaging in personality based politics.
Defending Channi, however, Warring claimed that the disturbances in Sangrur were orchestrated by the Aam Aadmi Party to create confusion within the Congress. He asserted that Channi had no role in the slogan shouting and described the former chief minister as an important leader of the party.
The latest developments come amid continuing unease within the Punjab Congress over recent organisational appointments. The party retained Warring as the state unit president while appointing Channi as chairman of its campaign committee, a decision that drew criticism from a section of leaders, including Channi and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa.
Baghel, who is touring Punjab as part of the Har Booth, Congress Mazboot campaign, has repeatedly dismissed reports of deep factionalism and insisted that all leaders are participating in organisational activities. He said the Congress remains focused on building a strong electoral network ahead of the Assembly elections.
The incidents in Patiala and Sangrur, however, have once again brought the internal differences within the state Congress into public view at a time when the party is seeking to present a united front before voters.