Punjab Politics: Factionalism and Dissent Test Congress, BJP Organisation

Internal dissent, factionalism and growing dissatisfaction among party workers are emerging as major challenges for the Congress and BJP in Punjab. Voices of discontent from sections of the cadre, coupled with rivalry between different groups, have put the leaderships of both parties under pressure to restore organisational discipline and unity.
Congress faces factional challenge
In the Congress, Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel has been holding a series of meetings with party leaders and workers in an effort to strengthen the organisation and boost the morale of the cadre. However, the exercise appears to be facing hurdles as factional differences continue to surface.
Rival groups have reportedly been putting up posters targeting each other, reflecting the intensity of the differences within the state unit. Supporters of former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring are also seen as being engaged in a contest for political and organisational influence.
For the Congress high command, the situation represents a delicate balancing act. While efforts are being made to strengthen the party ahead of future political battles, continued factionalism could undermine these efforts at the grassroots level.
The Congress has formed governments in Punjab in 1992, 2002 and 2017. Captain Amarinder Singh served as Chief Minister from 2002 to 2007 and again from 2017 until his resignation in 2021. He was succeeded by Charanjit Singh Channi, who became the state's first Dalit Chief Minister. Channi is currently a Member of Parliament from the Jalandhar parliamentary constituency.
The Congress leadership will therefore have to find an effective mechanism to bring different groups together and ensure that internal competition does not turn into organisational confrontation.
BJP cadre voices concern
The BJP, too, is facing questions from sections of its traditional cadre following recent organisational changes.
Kewal Singh Dhillon was appointed Punjab BJP state president, replacing Sunil Kumar Jakhar. Subsequently, the new team of state office-bearers was announced. The appointments, however, triggered reactions from several districts.
Senior BJP leader and former Punjab minister Tikshan Sud, along with other party leaders, resigned from organisational posts. Sud maintained that his decision was not a resignation from the BJP and reiterated his loyalty to the party.
At the same time, he raised questions regarding some of the organisational appointments, including changes involving district presidents shortly after their appointment. Such developments have generated unease among sections of the party's longstanding cadre.
The BJP has traditionally prided itself on being a disciplined, cadre-based organisation and has frequently described itself as a “party with a difference.” Consequently, open expressions of dissatisfaction from senior and veteran leaders carry particular organisational significance.
In Patiala, veteran BJP leaders including Bhupesh Aggarwal and former councillor Seema Sharma have reportedly raised concerns over the alleged sidelining of the party's core cadre. Sukhminder Pal Singh Grewal has also submitted his resignation from an organisational position.
High commands face a crucial test
The developments in both parties underline a common challenge: how to accommodate competing political ambitions without allowing them to damage organisational unity.
For the Congress, the priority is to bridge the gap between competing factions and rebuild confidence among workers. For the BJP, the challenge is to address the grievances of veteran leaders while ensuring that organisational restructuring does not alienate its traditional support base.
The respective high commands now face a crucial test. Dialogue, consultation and timely intervention could help contain the situation. Failure to address the grievances, however, could allow internal differences to deepen and become a larger political liability.
Punjab's political landscape has historically witnessed intense competition not only between parties but also within them. As the next electoral battles approach, organisational unity and the ability to manage internal dissent could prove as important as public campaigning.
For both the Congress and BJP, the message from the grassroots appears clear: political workers want to be heard, and the leaderships cannot afford to ignore growing voices of dissent.
Authored by:
Rajat Kumar Mohindru
Journalist
Jalandhar City
(Views are personal)