Charanjit Channi emerges as top choice for Punjab Congress chief amid power tussle
Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi emerged as the most popular choice for the post of Punjab Congress president during consultations conducted by a three-member
Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi emerged as the most popular choice for the post of Punjab Congress president during consultations conducted by a three-member observers' panel, according to Congress sources, even as a fresh power tussle has erupted within the state unit over the party leadership. The development assumes significance as more than 20 sitting and former Congress MLAs, along with several senior leaders, rallied behind Channi on Friday after the party leadership decided to retain Amrinder Singh Raja Warring as the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief. Read Full Story According to Congress sources, the observer panel appointed by the party high command to assess the political situation in Punjab has submitted its report after extensive consultations across the state. The three-member committee comprised Ajay Maken, Meenakshi Natarajan and Bhajan Lal Jatav. The committee reportedly created separate categories of leaders and met them individually. During the exercise, every leader was asked whether the party should change its leadership in Punjab. The consultations took place against the backdrop of growing dissatisfaction among several Punjab Congress leaders over the functioning of Warring, who has served as the state unit chief for nearly four and a half years. The observers held extensive consultations with nearly 67 leaders, including Congress Working Committee members, former ministers, MLAs, MPs and District Congress Committee presidents.
The panel also visited the residences of senior leaders, including Ambika Soni, to seek their views. According to a source, an overwhelming majority of leaders backed Channi for the post of Punjab Congress president. A senior source familiar with the consultation process told India Today that Channi enjoys considerable popularity and, when compared with other Congress leaders in the state, remains by far the most popular leader. Sources said the committee incorporated verbatim statements made by leaders in its report, with a majority recommending Channi as the best choice to head the Punjab Congress. The report has surfaced amid visible factionalism within the Punjab Congress after the party's central leadership retained Warring as the state unit chief while announcing organisational committees for the 2027 Assembly elections on Wednesday. On Friday, at least six Congress MLAs, several former legislators and senior party leaders gathered at Channi's residence in Punjab's Rupnagar district in a show of strength. Many leaders argued that Channi should lead the state unit to galvanise the party cadre ahead of the Assembly elections. According to the news agency PTI, the faction supporting Channi has given the Congress leadership one week to reconsider its decision on the appointment of the state party chief. In a post on X, Channi shared a video of Congress leader Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa speaking to the media and wrote that Congress leaders had called on him at his residence and urged him to present the sentiments and aspirations of the people of Punjab before the party high command.
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