The Punjab Puzzle: Congress Mulls A New State Chief, But Who Will It Be?

Last Updated:June 27, 2026, 15:03 IST

With several contenders and competing caste equations, choosing Raja Warring’s successor may prove harder than deciding whether to replace him.

Given the political pressure on Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over the sacrilege video, one would have thought that the Congress would sort out its Punjab puzzle. But the confusion has only deepened over whether there should be a new state chief and, if so, who it should be.

The appointment of a Dalit activist as the Congress’s state in-charge in Uttar Pradesh, which will go to polls along with Punjab, has triggered chatter over whether a Dalit leader could also be made the Congress chief in Punjab.

A demographic glance at the state shows that about 38 per cent of the population is Hindu, making it the second-largest community. Sikhs, of course, form the largest group, accounting for about 58 to 60 per cent of the population. Within this, Dalits account for about 32 per cent, while Jat Sikhs make up around 30 per cent.

And this is where the problem begins.

The present chief, Raja Warring, has been associated with the Youth Congress and the NSUI and is seen as being close to Rahul Gandhi. But the party is mulling a change, and the decision is not easy. This is why a team comprising Ajay Maken, Meenakshi Natarajan and Bhajan Lal Jatav was set up to assess the internal dynamics.

But the problem is that there are too many claimants and just one slot to fill.

If Warring goes, who is the best choice?

Rahul Gandhi’s heart appears to be set on the Dalit narrative, as seen in the recent reshuffle in Uttar Pradesh, where Dalit activist Rajendra Pal Gautam was made the state in-charge. So, will Rahul Gandhi do the same in Punjab?

Charanjit Singh Channi was made the chief ministerial face in the last polls to capture the Dalit vote, but the move did not meet with success. There is chatter that Channi may be brought back as state chief, but would that be the right decision, given that he failed to deliver a win last time and was also unable to build a team effort?

With the BJP appointing a Jat Sikh as its chief in the state, the Congress could come under similar pressure, especially with the Akalis and the AAP targeting the same vote base.

But it is the rising importance of Hindu and urban votes that could prove to be a clincher for the BJP. In case it ties up with the Akalis, it could tap both Sikh and Hindu votes.

So, has the time come for a Hindu leader to head the Congress in the state?

Some experts say the appointment of a Hindu chief could help counter the anti-Hindu narrative against the Congress at the national level. But can the Punjab Congress afford to take that risk?

About the Author

Pallavi Ghosh

Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. S...Read More

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