Punjab Congress rival faction meets Baghel, sticks to demand for Warring’s replacement

Chandigarh, July 11 (IANS) A long-awaited meeting was held on Saturday between the rival Punjab Congress faction led by former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, comprising several sitting and former lawmakers, and the party’s general secretary Bhupesh Baghel. 

After the meeting, Member of Parliament Sukhjinder Randhawa said, “Sometimes the party must reverse certain decisions…we do not need compromised leaders.” 

The rival camp comprising over 90 leaders has been demanding the replacement of state unit chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, who was retained as the PPCC President this month by the high command. 

The rivals gave specific instances of how Warring had created divisions within the party leadership. Without mincing words, Randhawa told the media here, “We also need leaders who speak boldly and decisively”. 

Responding to a media query, party state in-charge Baghel said, “Yes, I agree that any leader who is compromised will not work. If any leader will be compromised by the BJP, it will not work. It is my responsibility that I won’t let it happen.” 

At the same time, Baghel, who returned to Delhi after his five-day stay in Chandigarh, said he met and spoke with all his colleagues, and they shared their views with him, and he would convey all of them to the party high command. 

“Everyone agrees that the party should abide by the decision of the high command, and there is no objection to that. Everyone stands united. There were a few issues that our colleagues raised. I assured all of them that, as the General Secretary in-charge, I will safeguard everyone's interests,” said the former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister. 

“If someone is a deserving and winnable candidate, they will certainly be given a ticket. I have given them that assurance. Our colleagues have raised certain concerns, and I will convey all of them to the party high command.” 

On reports of Channi being the Chief Ministerial face in the upcoming Punjab Assembly polls, he replied, “This is false. There is no such talk happened. We only want Congress to form government.” 

Baghel also clarified that there was no discussion on the replacement of Raja Warring. 

However, former state Home Minister and Member of Parliament Randhawa said they had a productive dialogue, acknowledging that “sometimes the party must reverse certain decisions. Our demand to the leadership present today is clear. We want a Congress government in Punjab, and we want to address issues like the law-and-order situation and corruption. To achieve this, we need unity within the party, but we also need leaders who speak boldly and decisively. We do not need compromised leaders”. 

Legislator Rana Gurjeet Singh, the host of the meeting of the rival camp comprising sitting and former lawmakers owing allegiance to Member of Parliament Channi, told the media, “Everyone put forward their views. Bhupesh Baghel also shared his views. In other parties, no one is allowed to voice their complaints; this only happens in the Congress party.” 

Earlier, supporters of former CM Channi, one of the prominent Dalit faces, had expressed solidarity with him and demanded that their leader be appointed the state Congress chief, replacing incumbent Raja Warring. They gave a week’s ultimatum to the central leadership on July 3 to take a call on Channi's leadership, saying that under Warring's leadership, the Congress cannot come to power. 

--IANS

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