Former Punjab Chief Minister and Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi appeared to soften his stand amid the ongoing leadership tussle in the Punjab Congress, saying he remains committed to the party’s leadership and will abide by whatever strategy is decided by the Congress high command.
Speaking to a media outlet on Wednesday, Channi, who had recently taken a public stand against Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, struck a conciliatory tone after the party leadership adopted a firm position on the issue. He said his only objective was to strengthen the Congress and avoid escalating the internal dispute further.
“Rahul Gandhi is my leader and will remain my leader. All issues will be resolved soon. We will move forward according to the strategy decided by the party,” Channi said.
His remarks came shortly after AICC Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel, during his five-day visit to the state, firmly rejected demands for a leadership change. Baghel reportedly told party leaders that changing the state president was “not a game of dolls” and made it clear that the Congress high command had no plans to reconsider its decision on Raja Warring’s continuation as Punjab Congress chief.
Baghel also maintained that Warring enjoys the backing of 23 district Congress presidents, who had expressed their confidence in his leadership during organisational meetings.
The developments followed criticism from leaders aligned with Channi, who had alleged that the party high command was given an inaccurate assessment of the political situation in Punjab. The group had argued that the Congress would find it difficult to return to power in the 2027 Assembly elections under Warring’s leadership.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa also indicated that the party leadership was unlikely to alter its course. Referring to political setbacks, Bajwa said even after internal divisions, the Aam Aadmi Party had managed to secure a massive mandate in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections. Without naming any faction, he suggested that if senior leaders chose to stay away, the party would continue to move forward with new leadership if necessary.
Congress MLA Pargat Singh also appealed for unity, saying Punjab was heading into a crucial electoral phase and this was not the time for political experiments or symbolic shows of strength. He said internal issues should be resolved quickly instead of creating competing narratives through public displays.
Baghel is also understood to have made multiple attempts to engage with the Channi camp during his Punjab visit. He first met Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa in what was seen as an effort to open communication channels. Punjab Congress working president Raj Kumar Verka also reportedly held discussions with Channi before meeting Baghel.
In another conciliatory gesture, Baghel publicly remarked that he would readily accept an invitation for tea if extended by any party colleague. However, leaders identified with the Channi camp reportedly stayed away from official engagements during the visit.
While leaders supporting Raja Warring met Baghel in significant numbers after the organisational meetings, Channi, former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and their supporters remained absent from official programmes. Sources indicated that the dissident group preferred to present its concerns directly before the Congress high command rather than share a platform with the state party chief.
Channi’s latest remarks are being viewed in political circles as a sign that the former Chief Minister has adopted a more restrained approach following the Congress leadership’s unequivocal backing of Raja Warring and its message that organisational decisions would not be revisited.