A fresh power struggle has broken out inside the Punjab Congress. Former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi is said to be unhappy after he was not made the Punjab Congress president, and he has now openly taken on the party high command over the decision. Signs of rebellion are growing within the party, and some leaders could resign in the days ahead. The Channi camp has made it clear that it does not accept Amarinder Singh Raja Warring continuing as state party chief, and has demanded that the high command reconsider its decision.
65 leaders gather in Morinda, five sitting MLAs among them
The meeting was held at Charanjit Singh Channi's residence in Morinda, where a total of 65 Congress leaders gathered. Five sitting MLAs were present, Tript Rajinder Bajwa, Rana Gurjeet, MLA Sukhbir Singh Sukh Sarkaria, Ladi Sherowalia, MLA from Shahkot, and Kuldeep Singh Dhillon, MLA from Barnala. Several former MLAs also attended, including former Deputy Chief Minister OP Soni, Gurpreet Singh Kangad, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Gurkirat Kotli, Darshan Singh Brar, Lakhbir Singh Lakha, Madan Lal Jalalpur, Angad Singh Saini, Harminder Singh Gill, Kushaldeep Singh Kiki Dhillon, Tarsem Singh, Devendra Ghubaya, Joginder Pal and Inderbir Singh Bolaria, taking the total number of former MLAs present to 15. A former Member of Parliament, Mohammad Sadiq, also took part in the meeting.
Balkaur Singh, seen as close to Raja Warring, also attends
Former Punjab Youth Congress president Barinder Singh Dhillon was also present at the meeting. Sidhu Moosewala's father, Balkaur Singh, who is generally considered close to Raja Warring, also attended, which added weight to the gathering. Once the meeting ended, all the leaders stepped out together and posed for a group photograph.
No dispute with the high command, but objections remain: Tript Rajinder Bajwa
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Tript Rajinder Bajwa said the leaders had no dispute with the party high command, but they did have certain objections and wanted to speak to the high command once again. He said there was some resentment and dissatisfaction among the leaders, and they wanted the high command to hear them out and address their complaints and concerns. Bajwa also pointed out that during a recent organisational restructuring, the high command retained Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as Punjab Congress president instead of removing him, and that decision has now become the root of the current controversy.
Government formation difficult without Channi as state chief: Darshan Brar
Former MLA Darshan Singh Brar, who also attended the meeting, said that if Charanjit Singh Channi is not made the Punjab Congress chief, the party will find it difficult to form a government in the state. The remark makes clear that the Channi camp is holding firm on its demand, and pressure on the party high command could grow further in the coming days.
