Punjab Congress' 'show of unity' becomes political talking point; video of leaders squeezed into SUV goes viral
PTC News Desk: What was means to be a show of unity turned into a political talking point. A marathon meeting between Punjab Congress leaders and the party’s central leadership in Chandigarh led to a political controversy after a video showing several senior leaders crowded into one SUV went viral. The BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) used the video to take jibes at the Congress.
The video shows Congress leader Sachin Pilot driving the SUV, while party general secretary KC Venugopal sits in the front passenger seat. Punjab Congress leaders Partap Singh Bajwa, Charanjit Singh Channi, Raja Warring and Pargat Singh are seen sitting tightly together in the back seat.
Explaining the car ride, Pilot said, "I was driving, and Venugopal ji was sitting in the front. It was Pargat Singh ji's car. Raja ji and Channi ji were sitting with us. Bajwa ji hosted the lunch."
AAP takes a dig at Congress
AAP spokesperson Baltej Pannu mocked the Punjab Congress, claiming that the state leaders were being overshadowed by the party’s central leadership.
“Punjab Congress is sitting in the laps of the leaders from Delhi! Neither is Pilot from Moga nor is Venugopal from Hoshiarpur! Poor state president Pargat Singh did not even get a seat,” Pannu said in a sarcastic post.
His remarks targeted the presence of central leaders alongside Punjab’s senior Congress leaders. He also pointed out that Pargat Singh appeared to have very little space in the vehicle.
ਦਿੱਲੀ ਵਾਲਿਆਂ ਦੇ ਕੁੱਛੜ ਬੈਠੀ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ!!
ਨਾ ਤਾਂ ਪਾਇਲਟ ਮੋਗੇ ਤੋਂ ਹੈ, ਨਾ ਹੀ ਵੇਣੂਗੋਪਾਲ ਹੁਸ਼ਿਆਰਪੁਰ ਤੋਂ!
ਵਿਚਾਰੇ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਪ੍ਰਗਟ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੂੰ ਸੀਟ ਹੀ ਨਹੀਂ ਮਿਲੀ????????
@AAPPunjab @BhagwantMann @msisodia https://t.co/grINtYIWaF
— Baltej Pannu (@BaltejPannu) October 26, 2026
BJP leader Ravneet Bittu joins the attack
BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu also mocked the Congress over the video, adding to the political criticism of the party’s leadership.
ਦਿੱਲੀ ਵਾਲਿਆਂ ਨੇ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਦੀ ਪੰਡ ਬੰਨ ਕੇ ਗੱਡੀ ਵਿੱਚ ਸੁੱਟ ਤਾਂ ਲਈ, ਪਰ ਮੀਡੀਆ ਵਾਲਿਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਬੇਨਤੀ ਹੈ ਕਿ ਨਜ਼ਰ ਰੱਖਣ ਇਹ ਸਹੀ ਸਲਾਮਤ ਗੱਡੀ ਵਿਚੋਂ ਉਤਰ ਦੇ ਨੇ ਜਾ ਨਹੀਂ। https://t.co/uGDfeGBhu3
— Ravneet Singh Bittu (@RavneetBittu) October 26, 2026
"The leaders from Delhi have tied up the Punjab Congress into a bundle and thrown it into the car. But I request the media to keep an eye on whether they manage to get out of the car safely or not," Bittu said.
In response, Congress leader Durlabh Singh, who is considered close to former Punjab Congress chief Raja Warring, shared a video of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann hanging from a moving vehicle during an AAP roadshow. AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal was also seen in or around the vehicle.
Durlabh Singh took a swipe at Pannu, writing, “At least these leaders are sitting inside the car! Unlike your leaders, who have to hang from the side of the vehicle, Baltej Pannu ji! Understand the difference between a hanger and a leader!”
His post, which included a laughing emoji, added another round of political exchanges between the Congress and AAP.
The incident comes at a time of intense political activity within the Punjab Congress, as senior state leaders hold discussions with the party’s central leadership in Chandigarh. What was expected to show unity within the party has instead given political rivals an opportunity to question the relationship between the state unit and its national leadership.
The Congress responded by turning the criticism towards AAP, making the episode another round of political one-upmanship in Punjab.
- PTC NEWS
