Punjab Congress's former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi is said to be upset over a recent organisational reshuffle in the state unit, with sources indicating he is unhappy about the high command's decisions on appointing chairpersons and members to various committees. Amid the reported discontent, Channi has called a meeting of his supporters among Congress workers at his home turf of Morinda at 11 am on Friday.
Since being named chairman of the campaign committee, Channi has largely stayed silent and kept his distance from the media, a pattern that has only fuelled speculation about his displeasure with the recent changes in the organisation.
Warring and Bajwa retain their earlier roles
On Wednesday, the Congress finalised its organisational team for Punjab. Amarinder Singh Raja Warring was retained as Punjab Congress president, while Partap Singh Bajwa continues as Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly. These two appointments put to rest weeks of speculation about a possible overhaul of the party's state leadership.
New team, big responsibilities ahead of the 2027 polls
With the Punjab Assembly elections due in 2027, the Congress has announced a new team aimed at strengthening the organisation. Former MLA Sukhwinder Danny, former cabinet minister Raj Kumar Verka and OBC leader Sangat Singh Gilzian have been made working presidents of Punjab Congress. Danny and Verka are both counted among prominent leaders of the Scheduled Caste community.
The party has appointed Dalit face and former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi as head of the election campaign committee. Lok Sabha member Sukhjinder Randhawa has been given charge of the core committee, while former minister Vijay Inder Singla will chair the election management and coordination committee. Member of Parliament Amar Singh has been made chairman of the manifesto committee.
The Congress has named senior leaders Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Rana Gurjeet Singh and Dharamvir Gandhi as co-chairs of the election campaign committee. The role of co-chairs of the election management and coordination committee has gone to O.P. Soni, Razia Sultana, Kuljit Singh Nagra, Angad Singh Sahni and Bharat Bhushan Ashu. Besides this, the party has appointed Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Pargat Singh, Hardyal Singh Kamboj and Sukhwinder Singh Sarkaria as co-chairs of the manifesto committee.
An attempt to rein in factionalism
Through these appointments, the party appears to be trying to check factionalism within its Punjab unit. A few months ago too, reports had surfaced of Channi's unhappiness, when he had raised the issue of alleged neglect of leaders from the Dalit community. In an effort to end infighting within the party, the Congress has held several rounds of meetings over the past few weeks.
All eyes are now on Friday's meeting of Channi's supporters in Morinda. It remains to be seen whether Channi uses the gathering to openly air his grievances or signals that he is falling in line with the party's organisational changes.
