Rift among Punjab Congress leaders to fore as Baghel chairs meeting for '27 Assembly poll

Simmering differences among senior Punjab Congress leaders came to the fore in the first meeting of the state unit’s political affairs committee, which was chaired by Punjab affairs in charge Bhupesh Baghel in New Delhi today.

In an over five-hour long meeting, the former Chhattisgarh CM listened patiently to the party leaders as the blueprint for the micro-management to strengthen the state unit at the block level in the run-up to the 2027 Assembly elections was discussed threadbare.

Amid the general agreement among the party leaders for firm handling of indiscipline in the state unit, the meeting saw heated arguments between PPCC president Amrinder Raja Warring and former Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, as the latter complained of the top state leaders not supporting him when he was subjected to political vendetta at the hands of the ruling AAP government. To end the impasse, certain leaders urged Baghel to give personal hearing to all such aggrieved leaders.

Heated exchange, verbal duels 

The meeting saw heated arguments between PPCC president Amrinder Raja Warring and former Cabinet Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu as the latter complained of "no support from senior leaders"

Former PPCC chief Shamsher Singh Dullo engaged in a verbal duel with former CM Charanjit Channi over the former's strong observation on ‘parachute leaders’

CLP leader Partap Singh Bajwa took a dig at Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh after he raised the issue of communication gap between the top leaders and other state leaders

Though the state top leadership was tight-lipped on the squabbling among the leaders during the meeting, sources said a number of senior leaders, including former PPCC chief Shamsher Singh Dullo raised the issue of traditional Congressmen being ignored in the organisational structure at the cost of the parachute candidates. Dullo’s strong observation on ‘parachute leaders’ saw him engage in a verbal duel with former CM Charanjit Channi, as both took a dig at each other during the meeting. As Channi affirmed his Congress ideology, Dullo hit back at the former CM alleging that the latter had enjoyed political and constitutional positions at the cost of the traditional Congress men.

Several senior leaders, including Rana KP Singh and Brahm Mohindra, raised the issue of Hindu leadership being not given the due space in the organisational structure to counter the BJP efforts.

CLP leader Partap Singh Bajwa also had a verbal duel with former Cabinet Minister and Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh, after the latter raised the issue of communication gap between the state top leaders and other state leaders.

 Punjab politics being run from Delhi: AAP

AAP spokesperson Neel Garg on Thursday said the Congress leaders stood exposed for running the Punjab politics from Delhi. "Why can't Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge or Bhupesh Baghel come to Punjab for meetings? Why Bhupesh Baghel is Punjab's in-charge, is he from Punjab?" said Garg.

Both Warring and Bajwa did not respond to calls. Baghel while addressing the leaders sought discipline and unified management to take on the ruling AAP in run up to the next Assembly elections.

Later, addressing the media, Baghel said six agendas, including micro-management of the 2027 Assembly polls and strengthening the organisational structure, were discussed. Besides, a strategy to corner the ruling AAP government was discussed.