Bhupesh Baghel to meet Channi camp leaders amid Punjab Congress leadership buzz; Raja Warring claims party united
PTC Web Desk: The Congress leadership's efforts to resolve differences within its Punjab unit are set to continue on Saturday, with AICC general secretary in-charge Bhupesh Baghel scheduled to meet senior leaders considered close to former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi.
The meeting comes just three days after Baghel firmly dismissed speculation about any change in the state leadership, saying the party high command's decisions are not altered repeatedly.
Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring confirmed that Baghel had informed him about the scheduled interaction and said the party observer would hold separate discussions with the leaders concerned.
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According to available information, the meeting is likely to be attended by Charanjit Singh Channi, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Rana Gurjit Singh, all of whom have so far not met Baghel during his ongoing Punjab visit.
When asked whether Channi's supporters had requested that Warring stay away from the meeting, the Punjab Congress chief said he had no information about any such demand.
Responding to speculation that some leaders were unwilling to accept his continuation as Punjab Congress president, Raja Warring rejected the claim outright.
He challenged reports of dissent, asking which senior leader had publicly refused to accept his leadership. Referring to Channi, Randhawa, Aruna Chaudhary and Partap Singh Bajwa, Warring said none of them had made such a statement.
He also expressed confidence that the party leadership would soon be seen together.
"In a day or two, you will see all of us together," he said, adding that he held no bitterness towards any party colleague and believed the Congress remained united.
Baghel, who is also the former Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, arrived in Punjab earlier this week to assess the organisation's preparedness for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
Originally scheduled for a five-day tour, he has now extended his visit by three more days to continue consultations with party leaders, legislators and office-bearers across the state.
Since arriving on Monday, he has held a series of meetings aimed at strengthening the organisation ahead of the Assembly elections due early next year.
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Earlier this week, leaders considered close to Channi had stayed away from Baghel's meetings, reportedly because of dissatisfaction over the party's recent organisational appointments. However, on Thursday, the group softened its stand and agreed to present its concerns directly before Baghel.
Jalandhar Cantonment MLA Pargat Singh confirmed that the leaders would meet the AICC in-charge and place their views before him.
Channi is believed to be unhappy after the Congress decided to retain Raja Warring as Punjab Congress president while appointing him as chairman of the party's campaign committee.
When asked about comments made by senior leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who had suggested that Warring should introspect, the Punjab Congress chief avoided any confrontation.
Warring described Randhawa as an elder brother and a respected senior leader, saying he did not believe Randhawa was upset with him and that he would speak to him personally.
Senior Congress leader Supriya Shrinate, who addressed a joint press conference with Warring, dismissed concerns over internal divisions within the Punjab unit.
She said differences of opinion were natural in a democratic party and reflected the presence of multiple leaders rather than factionalism.
On Wednesday, Baghel had categorically ruled out any reconsideration of Raja Warring's appointment as Punjab Congress president. He remarked that once the party high command had taken a decision, it could not be changed repeatedly, dismissing suggestions of a leadership rethink.
Baghel also maintained that the Congress remained united in its objective of returning to power in Punjab and said the party respected every leader's contribution.
Unlike other political parties, he said, the Congress encouraged open discussions and valued differing opinions instead of functioning through one-way directives.
On July 1, the Congress announced that Amrinder Singh Raja Warring would continue as the president of the Punjab Congress while appointing Charanjit Singh Channi as chairman of the party's campaign committee.
A few days later, Channi attended a meeting in Mohali along with several sitting and former MLAs, where leaders urged the party high command to reconsider the decision and appoint him as the state unit chief.
While acknowledging that differences of opinion existed, leaders, including Pargat Singh and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, have repeatedly maintained that the Congress remains united and that its primary focus is to return to power in the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
- With inputs from agencies
