Crisis in Punjab Congress: Rahul Gandhi Rushes to Kharge After Returning from Abroad

NEW DELHI / CHANDIGARH: Amid a brewing rebellion within the Punjab Congress, senior party leader Rahul Gandhi rushed to meet national president Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi immediately after returning from his foreign trip. The two top leaders are set to deliberate on a crucial assessment report submitted by AICC Punjab In-charge Bhupesh Baghel, which will ultimately dictate the future course of the party in Punjab.

Bhupesh Baghel had recently concluded a high-stakes 6-day tour of Punjab to assess internal friction. He submitted his findings to Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, who has already held preliminary discussions with Kharge. The final decision on the fate of the state unit now rests with Rahul Gandhi.

Bhupesh Baghel's Verdict: No CM Face for Punjab

In a massive blow to the dissident faction, Bhupesh Baghel took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to clear the air. He explicitly stated that the Congress party will not project any Chief Ministerial face in Punjab.

"The Congress party has only one face in Punjab, and that is Rahul Gandhi," Baghel declared.

This statement has flatly rejected the ongoing demands from the rebel camp to project former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi as the face of the party. Earlier, Baghel had also firmly shot down the demands to replace the current Punjab Congress chief, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring.

Channi Camp Digs in Heels, Demands Meeting with Rahul Gandhi

Meanwhile, the internal rift has widened as the Charanjit Singh Channi faction prepares to move its base to Delhi. The camp is eagerly waiting to secure an appointment with Rahul Gandhi to present their side of the story.

During the final meeting of Baghel’s Punjab tour, leaders from the Channi camp made it explicitly clear that they are deeply dissatisfied with Amarinder Singh Raja Warring's leadership.

• Senior leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa reportedly stated that the party cannot function under a "compromised leadership."

• Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa also urged the high command to urgently reconsider the state leadership structure.

Silence in the Rebel Rank Ahead of Delhi High Command Meet

With Bhupesh Baghel leaving Chandigarh for Delhi without offering an immediate resolution, Punjab Congress remains a divided house. For now, top leaders of the Channi faction have reportedly issued internal directives to maintain strict silence and avoid speaking to the media until they get an audience with Rahul Gandhi.

With the high command firmly backing Raja Warring and ruling out a regional CM face, all eyes are now on Delhi to see how Rahul Gandhi handles the mounting pressure from Punjab's veteran leadership.