Congress convenes emergency meeting on Punjab leadership, organisational changes likely on agenda

PTC Web Desk: The Congress high command has convened an emergency meeting of Punjab Congress leaders in New Delhi on Friday, triggering fresh speculation over possible changes in the party’s state leadership.

The meeting will be held at the residence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at 4 pm and is expected to be attended by five senior leaders from Punjab.

Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, party general secretary K C Venugopal and Punjab affairs in-charge Bhupesh Baghel will also participate in the discussions.

The development comes shortly after the Punjab BJP announced its new state president, following which the Congress appears to have intensified its political activity in the state. Party sources indicated that organisational restructuring and leadership-related issues could come up for discussion during the meeting.

According to sources, the Congress leadership wants to consult senior state leaders before taking any major decision regarding the Punjab unit.

Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, former Punjab chief minister and MP Charanjit Singh Channi, MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and senior leader Vijay Inder Singla are expected to attend the meeting.

The meeting also assumes significance as the results of the urban local bodies elections are scheduled to be declared on Friday.

Earlier, the Congress high command had held a similar meeting on January 22 at Kharge’s residence, where speculation regarding a leadership change in Punjab was dismissed. At that time, K C Venugopal had reportedly cautioned party leaders over factionalism and advised them against making public statements that could harm the party’s image.

Sources said the high command had also expressed displeasure earlier after around 30 Punjab Congress leaders sought a separate meeting with the central leadership over internal party matters.