Punjab Congress leaders seek Channi as state chief; Randhawa meets Amit Shah amid speculation

Internal divisions within the Punjab Congress have surfaced as a group of leaders, including former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, convened to advocate for his appointment as the state party chief. The gathering, held at Channi's residence, saw around 60 Congress figures, including sitting and former legislators, express their dissatisfaction with the party's recent organizational restructuring.

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Everyone discussed how to bring the Congress back to power. We have requested Channi to seek time from the high command so that the sentiments of Punjab workers can be conveyed. We have no issue with the high command, but the recent decision should be reviewed in the interest of the party.

Participants in the meeting unanimously called for the All India Congress Committee (AICC) to review its latest appointments. They specifically questioned the decision to retain Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president and Partap Singh Bajwa as the leader of the opposition. Senior MLA Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, while denying any rebellion, acknowledged resentment, stating the goal was to bring Congress back to power and that Channi is the "mass leader" capable of achieving this.

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All is not well in the Punjab Congress. Workers want Channi to lead because he is the mass leader who can bring the Congress back to power. Under Raja Warring, the party cannot return to power.

Adding another layer of political intrigue, Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in Delhi. While Randhawa and national Congress leaders attributed the meeting to discussions on Punjab's deteriorating law and order situation, it fueled widespread speculation about potential political realignments, especially with assembly elections due next year in the Aam Aadmi Party-ruled state.

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Congress leaders called on me at my residence and urged me to present the sentiments and aspirations of the people of Punjab before the high command.