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.

Chandigarh: Former Punjab Chief Minister and Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi appears to have stepped back after adopting a rebellious stance against Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring. Facing a strict warning from the party high command, Channi broke his silence on Wednesday during a media interaction.

When asked about his displeasure within the party, Channi softened his tone, stating, "My only goal is to take the Congress forward. I will not say anything else on this matter."

"Rahul Gandhi is my leader and will always remain so. All issues will be resolved soon. We will move forward according to the strategy formulated by the party." — Charanjit Singh Channi

Baghel's Stern Message: "Changing the President is Not Child's Play"

Earlier, AICC In-charge for Punjab, Bhupesh Baghel, who is on a 5-day visit to the state, sent a clear message to Channi and his supporters. Baghel explicitly stated that changing the state unit president is "not child's play" and the high command will not reverse its decision. He noted that Raja Warring enjoys the backing of 23 district presidents, who have already given their consent in a meeting.

This tough stance comes after the Channi faction alleged that Baghel had misled the high command with a false report, claiming that the party could not win the 2027 elections under Warring's leadership.

Senior Leaders React

• Partap Singh Bajwa (Leader of Opposition): Bajwa took a subtle dig at the rebels, pointing out that in the 2022 elections, despite 10 out of 22 AAP MLAs breaking away, the AAP still won 92 seats. “If senior leaders stay behind, new people will step up. The public will support whoever they have made up their minds about,” he said. He added that the rebel faction should wait a week; if their appeal is rejected, discussions can resume.

• Pargat Singh (Jalandhar Cantt MLA): Pargat Singh emphasized that this is not the time for political experiments. “The battle for Punjab is huge, and elections are very close. This is not the time to show strength through photo sessions. We should sort out our minor problems,” he remarked.

Baghel’s 3 Failed Attempts to Pacify Channi

Despite the tough talk, efforts were made to bring Channi to the table, but they fell flat:

1. The Bajwa Route: Upon reaching Chandigarh, Baghel first met LOP Partap Singh Bajwa, hoping he could mediate. Although Bajwa spoke optimistically to the media, the Channi faction remained rigid.

2. Verka’s Initiative: Working State President Raj Kumar Verka held a closed-door meeting with Channi before meeting Baghel. However, no leader from the Channi camp subsequently went to meet the AICC in-charge.

3. The "Tea" Offer: Baghel publicly stated, "If anyone invites me for tea, I will definitely go." Despite this open invitation, the Channi faction maintained its distance on the second day of the tour.

Responsibilities of New Working Presidents Fixed

Amidst the ongoing turmoil, the party has distributed responsibilities among the newly appointed working presidents:

• Sukhwinder Singh Danny: Will work with AICC Secretary Suraj Thakur. He will oversee the 42 assembly constituencies currently managed by Thakur, along with the respective frontal organizations and departments.

• Sangat Singh Gilzian: Will coordinate with AICC Secretary Ravindra Dalvi. He has been given the responsibility of 45 assembly constituencies and the associated frontal organizations.

• Raj Kumar Verka: Will partner with AICC Secretary Heena Kawre, taking charge of 30 assembly constituencies and their related departments.

Warring’s Show of Strength vs. Channi’s Silent Protest

During the first two days of Baghel's visit, meetings were held with senior leaders, state office bearers, Election Management Committee Chairman Vijay Inder Singla, and Manifesto Committee Chairman Amar Singh. However, Campaign Committee Chairman Charanjit Singh Channi and Core Committee Chairman Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa completely skipped these meetings.

While Raja Warring’s supporters turned up in large numbers to welcome Baghel—sending a strong message about their grip on the organization—the Channi faction remained completely absent from all official programs. Sources indicate that Channi's camp refuses to share a stage with Raja Warring and insists on taking their grievances directly to the high command in Delhi.

What's Next? Wednesday is being viewed as the most crucial day, as Bhupesh Baghel is scheduled to hold one-on-one meetings with senior Punjab Congress leaders. All eyes are on whether Channi and Randhawa will finally meet the AICC in-charge or continue their boycott.

After the Trinamool Congress in Bengal, the Punjab Congress is now facing a major internal rebellion. In a dramatic turn of events, Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa secretly reached Delhi and met Union Home Minister Amit Shah. During this visit, he was spotted alongside BJP Rajya Sabha MP Tarun Chugh, sparking heavy speculation of a potential split.

Meanwhile, former Chief Minister and Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi has opened a front against the Congress high command after being denied the position of Punjab Congress President.

Channi Calls Emergency Meeting in Morinda

Expressing his dissatisfaction, Channi called an emergency meeting of Congress leaders at his residence in Morinda. The meeting saw a massive show of strength, with 25 prominent leaders, including three sitting MLAs, in attendance.

Key Leaders at Channi's Residence:

• Sitting MLAs: Tript Rajinder Bajwa, Kala Dhillon (Barnala), and Rana Gurjit (Kapurthala).

• Former Ministers & Senior Leaders: Former Deputy CM OP Soni, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Gurkirat Kotli, Gurpreet Kangar.

• Other Prominent Attendees: Nazar Singh Manshahia, Davinder Singh Ghubaya, Inderbir Singh Bolaria, Lakhbir Lakha, Tarsem DC, Darshan Brar, Harminder Singh Gill, Madan Lal Jalalpur, former Youth Congress President Barinder Dhillon, Kamaljit Karwal, and former MP Mohammad Sadique.

The Root Cause: Retaining Raja Warring

The primary trigger for the rebellion is the Congress high command's decision to retain Ludhiana MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring as the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) Chief ahead of the February 2027 assembly elections.

Channi's name was reportedly finalized for the state president post, but the sudden decision to retain Warring and appoint Channi merely as the Campaign Committee Chairman has left the former CM deeply offended. According to sources, Channi has not even formally thanked the high command for his new role.

Reactions and Internal Discord

A close aide of Channi, speaking on the condition of anonymity, revealed that the former CM is furious over the snub and is preparing for a direct confrontation. "He wants to do a show of strength to make the high command realize his political weight," the aide stated.

What the Leaders Are Saying:

• Darshan Brar (Former MLA): Stated bluntly that without making Channi the state president, the Congress cannot form the government in Punjab.

• Tarsem DC (Former MLA): Claimed the people of Punjab want to see Channi as the Chief Minister. However, in a contrasting statement to the media, he also claimed he wasn't officially invited by Channi, was unaware of the agenda, and suggested everyone should accept the high command's responsibilities and work together.

• Kuldeep Singh Vaid (Former MLA): Maintained a neutral stance, urging that the high command's decision must be respected and accepted by all factions.

With multiple factions displaying open dissent, the Congress high command faces an uphill battle to unify the Punjab unit ahead of the crucial 2027 state elections.

जालंधर लोकसभा सीट पर पंजाब के पूर्व सीएम रहे चरणजीत सिंह चन्नी ने विजय दर्ज की है। यहां पर उन्होंने भारतीय जनता पार्टी के सुशील कुमार रिंकू को 175993 वोटो से हराया है।

चरणजीत सिंह चन्नी को 390053 वोट मिले हैं, जबकि भाजपा के सुशील कुमार रिंकू को 214060 वोट मिले। इस सीट पर आम आदमी पार्टी के पवन कुमार टीनू को 208889 और शिरोमणि अकाली दल के मोहिंदर सिंह केपी को 67911 वोट मिले हैं।

जीत दर्ज करने के बाद चरणजीत चन्नी ने काउंटिंग सेंटर पहुंचकर अपना सर्टिफिकेट प्राप्त किया। उनके साथ उनकी पत्नी भी रही। उन्होंने अपनी पत्नी का मुंह मीठाकर जीत की खुशी का इजहार किया। जिसके बाद चरणजीत सिंह चन्नी ने समर्थकों और जनता का आभार जताया।