The Congress high command is expected to take a final call on the leadership structure of its Punjab unit, with a series of consultations underway in New Delhi on Thursday, party sources said.
According to sources, senior Congress leader and party general secretary KC Venugopal has been holding individual meetings with key Punjab leaders ahead of the formal announcement of the new leadership team. Former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa was among the leaders who met Venugopal at his residence in the national capital.
Sources indicated that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi recently reviewed reports submitted by three party observers and subsequently held discussions with five senior Punjab leaders. Following those deliberations, Gandhi is understood to have conveyed his decision regarding the state leadership to Venugopal.
Party insiders said the ongoing one-to-one meetings are aimed at informing senior leaders about the proposed organisational changes before an official announcement is made. The exercise is also being viewed as an effort to maintain unity within the state unit ahead of future political challenges.
Former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and former minister Vijay Inder Singla are reportedly among the frontrunners for the post of Punjab Congress president. Sources claimed that while Gandhi is believed to favour Singla for the position, a section of senior leaders has advocated Channi’s candidature. Another group within the party is said to be backing Randhawa for the role.
To avoid discontent among senior leaders, the Congress leadership is also considering assigning significant organisational responsibilities to other prominent figures. Sources said the current Punjab Congress chief, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, and Randhawa could be accommodated in key campaign-related committees, while other senior leaders may also be entrusted with important organisational assignments.
Meanwhile, Punjab Congress leaders displayed a rare show of unity on Wednesday as several senior figures shared a platform in Chandigarh during a press conference targeting the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government. Warring, Channi, Randhawa and Singla were present at the event. Senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa did not attend the Chandigarh briefing but addressed the same issue separately at a press conference in Amritsar.
An official announcement regarding the Punjab Congress leadership is expected once the consultation process concludes, sources added.