Ahead of the 2027 Punjab assembly polls due early next year, the Congress finds itself grappling with infighting with a section of the party leaders led by Jalandhar MP and former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi pushing for change of guard in the state unit. The high command, however, has rallied behind state chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, clearly ruling out any leadership change. AICC general secretary and party’s Punjab affairs in-charge Bhupesh Baghel, currently on a five-day firefighting trip to Punjab, spoke to Hindustan Times on Thursday, downplaying the Channi-led rebellion. Accompanied by Warring and Fatehgarh Sahib MP Dr Amar Singh, Baghel, 65, asserted that the party is united in its mission to form the government in the state. Edited excerpts
It’s not infighting. This is internal democracy of the Congress. Here every leader has the freedom to express his views and can say that he wants to meet the high command to express his view. Do you think such freedom is there in the BJP? Even MPs cannot meet Modi. Moreover, tell me a party where groups are not there. The AAP has formed government in Punjab for the first time and see how many groups they have. Tell me an election when such a situation was not there in the Congress? Right from Partap Singh Kairon to Captain Amarinder Singh, the party faced such issues but still formed governments in Punjab.
A difference of opinion is welcome. But any step which can harm party’s prospectus, will be strictly dealt with. Recently, we removed tall leader Navjot Kaur Sidhu over indiscipline. Let me assure you that in the coming days, everyone will join and unitedly contest elections under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi.
I have already said that I am in constant touch with everyone, including Charanjit Singh Channi and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, and they are coming to meet me in the coming days. Everyone respects the decision of high command, which is final. Channi and others are very much part of the decision-making and he has been made the party’s campaign committee head.
{{/usCountry}}I have already said that I am in constant touch with everyone, including Charanjit Singh Channi and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, and they are coming to meet me in the coming days. Everyone respects the decision of high command, which is final. Channi and others are very much part of the decision-making and he has been made the party’s campaign committee head.
{{/usCountry}}There is no crisis in the party or chance of any sort of division. Here the issue is that many leaders want greater role in elections, which is always welcomed. Nothing wrong, if someone wants more.
I disagree with it. It used to happen way back in 1970 to 1980s. Now, the BJP is using its machinery to win elections. The BJP had strike rate of 90% in Haryana and Maharashtra, when there were no workers at many booths.
In rare cases, the Congress projects a CM face as the party believes in fighting elections unitedly. In 2017 and 2022, we announced the CM candidates. However, many a time, the party has not named anyone. In Chhattisgarh, where I was the CM, and in Rajasthan, where Gehlot was the CM, the party didn’t name anyone. The Congress believes in fighting elections as a party rather than on an individual’s name.
The party has many tall leaders and aspirants for the CM. It’s a good thing as it shows that we have strong leadership. In AAP, they have no leader beyond Bhagwant Mann. This was the very reason that the party’s national convener Arvind Kejriwal declared him a CM face despite Akal Takht’s edict against him.
The decision on it will be taken in the coming days. The way the BJP is bringing other party MPs into its fold, we need our MPs to maintain party strength in Parliament. We are in process of developing a formula for tickets. There are many young faces who will get tickets along with seniors, as party is committed to promoting youth and women leaders.
It is not right to say that. I can say this because being the Punjab affairs in-charge, I was aware what was recommended by the Maken panel. I can’t disclose you the details as it’s an internal party matter.
Warring was made the president when the party had lost badly in the 2022 state polls. He is very accessible and has a deep connect with party workers. He has worked hard to strengthen the grassroots level setup of the party and regularly raises people-centric issues. Due to his hard work, the party secured victory in 7 out of Punjab’s 13 Lok Sabha seats. That’s why the high command retained him.
Every political party is a challenge, and we take each of our opponents seriously. However, the BJP enjoys an unfair advantage because it allegedly uses central agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and even attempts to influence constitutional institutions during elections. The BJP tries to intimidate leaders of opposition parties. Maharashtra, Haryana, West Bengal and other states are live examples of it. The recent raids of ED and CBI, which even raided the Punjab Vigilance Bureau office, has created fear in the bureaucracy. In Punjab, they managed to ensure switch of six AAP Rajya Sabha MPs. May be they will end the AAP by dividing it before elections using unfair means. Despite these challenges, we remain confident and will take our message directly to the people.
Definitely, they will use it. But let me tell you this model won’t be successful in Punjab as Punjabis will defeat such agenda. If they (BJP leaders) still manage to do it, I will be very shocked and sad.
The Congress have strong base in every section of the society, be it Dalit, minorities or Jat Sikhs. Apart from Channi, we have many other Dalit leaders such as Dr Amar Singh, Raj Kumar Verka, Sukhwinder Singh Danny Bandala. Similarly, we have many Jat Sikh leaders, Hindu leaders and OBC leaders.
Yes. We will contest the assembly elections independently and are not planning any alliance with any political party. We believe we have the organisational strength and public support to fight the elections on our own.
As things stand, there is no such possibility. Even in Uttar Pradesh, where the BSP was once a major force, it has lost much of its political relevance. In many constituencies, the candidates it fields end up splitting votes in a way that ultimately benefits the BJP.