Charanjit Channi emerges as top choice for Punjab Congress chief amid power tussle

Former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi emerged as the most popular choice for the post of Punjab Congress president during consultations conducted by a three-member observers' panel, according to Congress sources, even as a fresh power tussle has erupted within the state unit over the party leadership.

The development assumes significance as more than 20 sitting and former Congress MLAs, along with several senior leaders, rallied behind Channi on Friday after the party leadership decided to retain Amrinder Singh Raja Warring as the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief.

According to Congress sources, the observer panel appointed by the party high command to assess the political situation in Punjab has submitted its report after extensive consultations across the state. The three-member committee comprised Ajay Maken, Meenakshi Natarajan and Bhajan Lal Jatav.

The committee reportedly created separate categories of leaders and met them individually. During the exercise, every leader was asked whether the party should change its leadership in Punjab.

The consultations took place against the backdrop of growing dissatisfaction among several Punjab Congress leaders over the functioning of Warring, who has served as the state unit chief for nearly four and a half years.

The observers held extensive consultations with nearly 67 leaders, including Congress Working Committee members, former ministers, MLAs, MPs and District Congress Committee presidents. The panel also visited the residences of senior leaders, including Ambika Soni, to seek their views.

According to a source, an overwhelming majority of leaders backed Channi for the post of Punjab Congress president. A senior source familiar with the consultation process told India Today that Channi enjoys considerable popularity and, when compared with other Congress leaders in the state, remains by far the most popular leader.

Sources said the committee incorporated verbatim statements made by leaders in its report, with a majority recommending Channi as the best choice to head the Punjab Congress.

The report has surfaced amid visible factionalism within the Punjab Congress after the party's central leadership retained Warring as the state unit chief while announcing organisational committees for the 2027 Assembly elections on Wednesday.

On Friday, at least six Congress MLAs, several former legislators and senior party leaders gathered at Channi's residence in Punjab's Rupnagar district in a show of strength. Many leaders argued that Channi should lead the state unit to galvanise the party cadre ahead of the Assembly elections.

According to the news agency PTI, the faction supporting Channi has given the Congress leadership one week to reconsider its decision on the appointment of the state party chief.

In a post on X, Channi shared a video of Congress leader Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa speaking to the media and wrote that Congress leaders had called on him at his residence and urged him to present the sentiments and aspirations of the people of Punjab before the party high command.

Channi, who represents Jalandhar in the Lok Sabha and belongs to the Dalit community, has been appointed chairperson of the Congress campaign committee, a key position responsible for planning and strategising the party's election campaign.

After a three-hour meeting at Channi's residence, Bajwa said resentment and disappointment prevailed among party workers and people over the leadership decision. He maintained that there was no rebellion and said leaders wanted Channi to seek an appointment with the Congress high command so they could present their concerns and urge the leadership to take a decision that would help the party return to power in Punjab.

Former minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar said party workers who approach voters believe people want Channi as the state chief. Congress leader Nazar Singh Manshahia echoed the sentiment, saying public opinion favoured Channi and that the party could not return to power without him leading the organisation.

Party leader Barinder Singh Dhillon said the issue was not about securing a post but about finding the right strategy to defeat the ruling AAP government in Punjab. Former MP Mohammad Sadiq also said leaders had united behind Channi and insisted the gathering was not an act of rebellion but a meeting driven by public demand.

Among those present at Channi's residence were former deputy chief minister Om Parkash Soni, former ministers Bharat Bhushan Ashu and Gurpreet Singh Kangar, former MLAs Nazar Singh Manshahia, Gurkirat Singh Kotli, Lakhvir Singh Lakha, Tarsem Singh, and Balkaur Singh, father of late singer and Congress leader Sidhu Moosewala.

Reports also suggest Channi is unhappy about being overlooked for the post of state Congress chief. He is learnt to have skipped the customary call to thank the party leadership after the organisational appointments were announced.

Ahead of the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, the Congress had replaced former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh with Channi. The party, however, lost power to the Aam Aadmi Party.

In the latest organisational reshuffle, the Congress retained Partap Singh Bajwa as the Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly. Randhawa, who was also considered a contender for the state Congress chief's post, was appointed chairperson of the party's core committee as the Congress attempted to accommodate multiple leaders in different organisational committees ahead of the Assembly elections.

- Ends