Bhupesh Baghel meets Channi camp as Punjab Congress tensions surface
Amid a tussle over the Punjab Congress leadership, AICC general secretary in-charge for the state Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday met leaders close to Jalandhar MP
Amid a tussle over the Punjab Congress leadership, AICC general secretary in-charge for the state Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday met leaders close to Jalandhar MP and former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi. After the meeting, Baghel said the leaders had conveyed some issues to him and he would take them to the party high command. The meeting came days after the Congress decided to retain Amrinder Singh Raja Warring as Punjab unit president and appoint Channi as chairperson of the campaign committee. Warring was not part of Saturday's meeting, which was held as the party steps up preparations for the 2027 Punjab Assembly polls. Read Full Story The nearly 80-minute meeting was held at senior Punjab Congress leader and MLA Rana Gurjit Singh's Sector 4 residence in Chandigarh and was attended by Channi. Baghel reached the venue at around 12.15 pm. Immediately after the meeting, he left for Raipur, with Warring joining him on the way to the airport and taking the driver's seat of the Defender vehicle. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Baghel said that since arriving in Punjab on Monday, he had met several leaders and had been invited to many of their residences. He said meetings had also been held with many related committees as Punjab is set to go to polls early in 2027.
On meeting the Channi camp, Baghel said, "We spoke to all colleagues. They kept their views. No one has any objection to the decision of the party high command; they are all with the high command. There are some things that our colleagues conveyed, and as the general secretary in-charge, I assured them that I would keep in mind everyone's interests." He added that if a candidate is winnable, he or she would definitely get a ticket. "Secondly, some colleagues have conveyed some issues to me, which I will convey to the high command," he said, without elaborating. On July 1, the Congress announced that Warring would continue as the Punjab unit president and named Channi as chairperson of the campaign committee. Said to be miffed at not being made state unit chief, Channi had not met Baghel earlier during his Punjab visit, and several leaders close to him had also stayed away. Despite their initial reluctance, Channi and senior leaders close to him on Thursday decided to end days of suspense and meet Baghel to place before him the sentiments of party workers. Before entering Rana Gurjit Singh's residence, Channi was asked whether Warring was acceptable to them as state unit president. He replied that everything would be discussed in the meeting.
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