Social media post exposes Punjab Congress infighting; senior leaders rally behind Channi, isolate Warring

Factional feud within the Punjab Congress escalated sharply on Monday after a single social media post exposed deep divisions in the state unit, just hours before the arrival of newly appointed party in-charge Bhupesh Baghel.

In a calculated show of strength, senior Congress leader and Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa shared a photograph online featuring former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi alongside key state heavyweights. The lineup included MLAs Barindermeet Singh Pahra, Pargat Singh, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu, and former MLA Kushaldeep Singh Dhillon.

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Captioned “Unity is Strength”, the photograph was quickly reposted by Channi. However, the conspicuous absence of Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring from the frame triggered intense political speculation about a coordinated effort to isolate the state unit chief.

Unity is Strength pic.twitter.com/BmhflmIeDC

— Charanjit Singh Channi (@CHARANJITCHANNI) July 6, 2026

The development is seen as a direct challenge to the party high command’s recent decision to retain Warring as the Punjab Congress chief. Channi, who has been openly lobbying for a leadership change, had recently mobilised support by hosting nearly 50 party leaders and former legislators at his Morinda residence. Political observers state that Monday’s photograph indicates Channi’s campaign has now gained visible backing from senior legislators and former ministers.

While Warring has been touring assembly constituencies to consolidate his base, the latest move by the Channi-Randhawa axis has put his camp on the defensive.

Reacting to the developments, Patiala MP Dr. Dharamvira Gandhi issued a veiled warning to the leadership, urging party workers and leaders to put “democracy, the Constitution, Punjab, and the country’s interests above personal ambitions.”

Simultaneously, leaders aligned with former state chief Navjot Singh Sidhu also entered the fray. Former Punjab DGP Mohammed Mustafa wrote an open letter to the Congress high command, demanding the appointment of a “strong leader” to head the state unit, further compounding Warring’s challenges.

Against this backdrop of open revolt, former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel is scheduled to arrive in Chandigarh this afternoon. Sources confirmed that Baghel will hold separate, urgent fire-fighting meetings with Warring, Channi, and other senior stakeholders to restore organizational discipline.

Political analysts have drawn parallels between the current confrontation and the disastrous 2021 factional feud between Captain Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu. With the entry of multiple factions, Baghel faces an uphill task in containing the damage ahead of upcoming electoral challenges.