Chandigarh: The internal tussle within the Punjab Congress shows no signs of easing, with former Chief Minister and Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi continuing to stay away from AICC Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel despite the latter’s extended stay in Chandigarh. The political standoff has highlighted growing divisions within the state unit ahead of key organisational decisions and the next Assembly elections.
Bhupesh Baghel has been meeting senior Congress leaders over the past several days in an effort to resolve factional differences and strengthen the party’s organisational structure. Although his visit was originally scheduled to conclude on July 10, party sources indicate it could be prolonged as efforts continue to bring all camps on board.
However, Channi has not met Baghel so far. Leaders considered close to the former Chief Minister are reportedly insisting that any discussion should take place under specific conditions. According to party insiders, the Channi camp has proposed that only a limited number of its representatives participate in the meeting and that the interaction should be held at a neutral venue rather than the Punjab Congress headquarters. They have also reportedly objected to the presence of Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring during the discussions.
Sources suggest that senior Congress leader and Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa could act as a bridge between the two camps if dialogue moves forward.
Despite maintaining his distance from the state leadership, Channi is believed to be open to discussions with the party’s central leadership. Political observers say he is keen on meeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi directly before taking any significant political decision regarding his future role in Punjab.
Meanwhile, Raja Warring has continued holding organisational meetings alongside Baghel, reinforcing his position within the state unit. Baghel has also met several senior Congress leaders, including veterans who have remained relatively inactive in recent months, signalling the high command’s intent to engage all sections of the party.
Political analysts believe the ongoing developments reflect a larger struggle over leadership and influence within the Punjab Congress.
Senior political commentator Pramod Batish said Channi appears determined to avoid any move that could be interpreted as weakening his political position. According to him, while representatives from Channi’s camp may eventually meet Baghel, the former Chief Minister himself is likely to reserve direct discussions for the central leadership.
Another political analyst, Pawandeep Sharma, believes the crisis has strengthened Raja Warring’s organisational standing. He noted that many leaders aligned with Channi remain reluctant to accept Warring’s leadership, making reconciliation within the party increasingly difficult. Sharma added that unless the leadership dispute is addressed soon, internal tensions could continue to affect the party’s preparations for future elections.
Although both camps have refrained from making detailed public statements, the prolonged deadlock has once again exposed factional fault lines within the Punjab Congress at a time when the party is attempting to rebuild its political base in the state.
