Barnala, Aug 2: The internal rift in Punjab Congress refuses to abate despite efforts by the top party leadership, with supporters of former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi raising slogans at a programme in Barnala in the presence of Bhupesh Baghel, AICC general secretary in-charge for the state, on Sunday as well.
Channi’s supporters have been increasingly sloganeering at Congress events even as the party is preparing for campaigns as assembly elections are due early next year.
Pro-Channi slogans had dKuldip Singh Kala Dhillon
isrupted the “Har Booth Congress Mazboot” programmes in Patiala and Sangrur on Saturday.
At the Barnala event on Sunday, a group of partymen started raising slogans in favour of Channi, briefly interrupting the programme.
Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring urged them to let the meeting continue. “No nara (slogan),” he told them.
Barnala MLA Kuldip Singh Kala Dhillon got down from the stage in a bid to calm down the dissidents.
Without naming anyone, Dhillon said, “In this state, there are five to seven leaders who speak in Delhi and make up their own stories. Sitting at Indira Bhawan in Delhi, they speak about strengthening the Congress. Then they come back and start harming others (in the state). We need to remain cautious of these people.”
Former minister Razia Sultana said those who deliberately spoil the atmosphere in the party should be shown the door.
“If anybody has an issue, they should say that before the high command,” she said.
Punjab Congress has been struggling with factionalism, despite repeated assertions by the party leadership that efforts are underway to strengthen organisational unity ahead of the 2027 Punjab elections.
The infighting came to fore when the Congress leadership on July 1 announced its decision to retain Amrinder Singh Raja Warring as the state unit chief, and appointed Jalandhar MP Channi as the chairperson of its campaign committee.
As the leadership tussle intensified, Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday asserted that the Congress high command will decide the party’s chief ministerial candidate and ministers after the Punjab assembly elections.
Baghel, who had on Friday dismissed the existence of factionalism in the state party unit, warned that whosoever indulges in indiscipline will be shown the door.
Channi too on Saturday urged party workers to maintain discipline during meetings and refrain from sloganeering that could create internal discord.
“Our fight is not among ourselves. Our fight is for Punjab. We have to strengthen Congress and take everyone along,” Channi said, adding that the party should focus on issues affecting Punjab instead of internal rivalries.
Baghel, who is currently on a tour of the poll-bound state, is scheduled to visit several assembly constituencies and hold meetings with the party’s district and block-level leaders.
