'Not A Gudda-Guddi Game': Inside Punjab Congress Power Struggle Ahead Of The 2027 Battle

Last Updated:July 09, 2026, 14:54 IST

The latest round of friction has prompted senior Congress leader and Punjab affairs in-charge Bhupesh Baghel to hold a series of meetings with party leaders.

The Congress is once again battling a familiar challenge in Punjab – internal dissent. Barely days after reorganising its state unit ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, the party is facing open resistance from a section of senior leaders unhappy with the appointments announced by the high command.

The latest round of friction has prompted senior Congress leader and Punjab affairs in-charge Bhupesh Baghel to hold a series of meetings with party leaders in Chandigarh and later in Delhi in an effort to contain the crisis. Even as some dissident leaders camped in the national capital seeking an audience with the party’s central leadership, the Congress high command has made it clear that it is not considering a change in the state’s leadership.

What Triggered The Latest Crisis?

The immediate flashpoint was the Congress high command’s organisational reshuffle for Punjab as it prepares for the 2027 Assembly elections.

The party decided to retain Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC). At the same time, Partap Singh Bajwa was given charge of the election management committee, while former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi was appointed chairman of the campaign committee.

The appointments were projected by the Congress as an attempt to balance organisational leadership, legislative experience and election preparedness. However, a section of leaders viewed the arrangement as reinforcing the existing leadership rather than addressing their concerns over the party’s functioning.

Several senior leaders subsequently stayed away from meetings convened by Baghel in Chandigarh, signalling that the differences had moved into the open. Instead, members of the dissident camp held separate consultations and later travelled to Delhi to press for intervention by the party’s central leadership.

What Are The Dissidents Demanding?

Leaders aligned with Channi have reportedly questioned the decision to continue with Raja Warring as the state unit chief and have sought a review of the organisational appointments announced by the Congress.

The dissident camp has argued that the leadership structure should be reconsidered ahead of the Assembly elections, while maintaining that their objections are aimed at strengthening the party rather than weakening it. According to reports, some leaders also believe the organisational changes do not adequately reflect the political realities on the ground.

The unease within the Punjab Congress was also reflected in a cryptic social media post by senior Congress MP Manish Tewari, who was left out of the party’s revamped organisational structure and election panels announced earlier this month. Soon after the reshuffle, Tewari posted on X, “Que sera, sera (Whatever will be, will be)," along with the remark, “Wish I had an antidote for the insecurities of individuals and institutions." While he did not name anyone or directly refer to the reshuffle, the post was widely interpreted as an expression of disappointment over the party’s decisions and added to the perception of widening discontent within the Punjab Congress.

What Has The Congress High Command Said?

The Congress leadership has publicly ruled out revisiting its decision. Addressing reporters during his meetings in Punjab this week, Bhupesh Baghel said, “No pressure works on the Congress high command," making it clear that public pressure or parallel meetings would not influence the party’s decisions.

Baghel also dismissed speculation about replacing Raja Warring, saying the appointment of a state Congress president “is not a game of gudda-guddi (playing with dolls)" and that there is no tradition in the party of reversing such decisions once taken by the high command.

At the same time, he stressed that dialogue would continue and said he remained willing to meet every leader, including those who had skipped the official meetings.

Have There Been Signs Of Reconciliation?

Despite the sharp exchanges, recent statements suggest both sides are trying to avoid a complete breakdown.

Former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi said his group would abide by the party’s electoral strategy, stating that “whatever strategy the party adopts, we will work accordingly." He also reiterated his commitment to the Congress leadership led by Rahul Gandhi, signalling that the disagreement is over organisational issues rather than a challenge to the party itself.

Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa also appealed for unity, saying, “No individual’s ambition can be bigger than Congress or Punjab." He urged party leaders to keep their focus on the 2027 Assembly elections rather than internal rivalries.

Why Does Punjab Congress Witness Repeated Internal Battles?

The current standoff is the latest chapter in a turbulent phase that has defined the Punjab Congress for several years.

The factionalism became publicly visible in 2021 when differences between then chief minister Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu escalated into a full-fledged political crisis. Amarinder Singh resigned as chief minister, Charanjit Singh Channi was chosen to lead the government, and Sidhu later stepped down as the state Congress chief amid fresh disagreements.

The prolonged infighting weakened the party’s campaign before the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, in which the Congress suffered a heavy defeat while the Aam Aadmi Party secured a sweeping majority.

Since then, the Congress has attempted to rebuild its organisation in Punjab while projecting itself as the principal opposition to the ruling AAP government. However, recurring disputes over leadership appointments have continued to test party unity.

With the Punjab Assembly elections due in 2027, the Congress leadership is keen to prevent organisational disagreements from overshadowing its campaign.

Baghel’s meetings with leaders in Punjab and Delhi are aimed at persuading the dissident camp to remain within the organisational framework while making it clear that the party is not inclined to revisit its recent appointments. Reports suggest the Congress high command is keeping communication channels open with all factions even as it stands by its decision to retain Raja Warring as the Punjab Congress chief.

The challenge before the Congress leadership is not confined to managing the Channi-Warring differences. The discontent expressed by leaders such as Manish Tewari, who publicly aired his disappointment after being excluded from the new organisational setup, underlines that the party’s balancing act extends beyond a single faction. With the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections approaching, the high command’s immediate task is to contain these competing ambitions while presenting a united organisation.

About the Author

Pragati Ratti

Pragati is a News Editor at news18.com. Having headed the Business and Viral sections, Pragati now ideates, writes and edits long-form features and articles on national and global affairs. She ensures...Read More

News explainers 'Not A Gudda-Guddi Game': Inside Punjab Congress Power Struggle Ahead Of The 2027 Battle

Read More