Warring’s rally in stronghold of Rana Gurjeet’s son on April 5

Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring will address a rally on April 5 at Sultanpur Lodhi, a move being seen as a new episode in his “rivalry” with senior party leader Rana Gurjeet Singh, who holds considerable influence in the area.

Though the state Congress chief sought to downplay the issue terming the event a part of the party’s “Judega Block, Jitegi Congress” campaign, Rana Gurjeet alleged that it was being done due to “competition”.

The former minister’s son Rana Inder Partap Singh is currently an Independent legislator from the constituency. Rana Gurjeet is a Congress legislator from adjoining Kapurthala seat.

The Sultanpur Lodhi event is being held weeks after Rana Gurjeet organised a rally on March 11 in Muktsar, the home district of Warring.

Before becoming the Ludhiana Lok Sabha MP, Warring was a Congress legislator from the Gidderbaha segment of Muktsar, a seat his wife Amrita Warring lost in the bypoll held last year.

Earlier, Rana Gurjeet had fired a salvo at the state party chief calling him a “selfish leader” and expressed his desire to lead the party in Punjab. Following the outburst, warring too had warned of action against party leaders who resort to “indiscipline”.

Differences in party

All India Congress Committee general secretary incharge for Punjab Bhupesh Baghel had to step in, asking party leaders not to go public about their differences while putting to rest speculations of a change of guard in the state Congress.

Commenting on the upcoming rally, Warring said, “Our block president and workers have made all preparations for it. This is no rally and no other motive should be ascribed to it.

However, Rana Gurjeet said, “Let him do it. It is his duty to hold rallies across the state. Ideally, he should have already been doing it. But now he seems to be doing it due to competition.” Asked if he would attend the rally, he said, “Let us see”. Meanwhile, former MLA Navtej Singh Cheema, who had lost the Assembly poll against Rana Gurjeet’s son in 2022, said Bholath legislator Sukhpal Singh Khaira is likely attend the rally. Khaira has been a critic of Rana Gurjeet and had taken a swipe at him when he announced that he would purchase maize on support price, likely for his ethanol plant.