Cracks in the Congress fortress in Punjab: A battle for position and stature erupts before the elections, with the top leadership mobilized.

Just before the upcoming assembly elections, the ruckus within the Punjab Congress has increased the concern of the party high command. The alleged resentment of many senior leaders, including former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, and dissatisfaction over party decisions has again fanned the flames of factionalism in the state. To control this situation, the Congress leadership has now started damage control.

Congress clan will gather in Chandigarh, Bhupesh Baghel gets command

Due to increasing factionalism in Punjab and show of strength among the leaders, the Congress high command has taken immediate action. The party has entrusted the responsibility of handling the situation to state in-charge Bhupesh Baghel. According to sources, Baghel is reaching Chandigarh on Monday and will camp there for the next three-four days. His main objective is to hold personal meetings with senior leaders, resolve their grievances and send a message of unity in the party.

Trouble over Channi’s CM candidature

This infighting in Punjab Congress has started mainly after the decisions of the formation and leadership of the committees formed for the assembly elections. There are heated discussions about former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi that he wants to see himself as the chief ministerial face in the upcoming elections. At present, the party has expressed confidence in Amarinder Singh Raja Vading and has retained him on the post of state president. Channi has been made the chairman of the campaign committee, but sources close to him say that he is not completely satisfied with this decision.

Resentment of senior leaders and stake of ‘collective leadership’

Not only Charanjit Singh Channi, but also senior leaders like Manish Tiwari have openly expressed their displeasure with the party. Manish Tiwari has raised questions on his neglect through social media, due to which the internal strife in the party has become more clear. At the same time, to prevent factionalism, the party has adopted the formula of contesting elections under ‘collective leadership’. At the same time, there is a discussion going on about not allowing MPs to contest elections, due to which many leaders are feeling the danger of being politically marginalized. However, State President Raja Vading has rejected all these claims and said that Congress is completely united and in the coming days all the leaders will be seen on one platform.