Punjab Congress may rejig leadership ahead of 2027 polls

The Congress high command is contemplating a major organizational reshuffle in its Punjab unit ahead of the 2027 Assembly polls, with discussions primarily revolving around balancing Hindu and Sikh representation in key positions, party sources said on Tuesday.

The development comes against the backdrop of growing concerns within the party over its electoral performance under the current state leadership.

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According to top party sources, Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge recently chaired a high-level review meeting in New Delhi to discuss the party’s organizational matrix in Punjab. The meeting, which the Punjab party attended in charge of Bhupesh Baghel and other senior leaders, was the second such high-profile huddle within a span of four days, triggering intense speculation of an imminent shake-up.

However, speaking to reporters after the meeting, Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel dismissed rumors of immediate structural changes.

“No decision has been taken to alter the current organizational structure. The 2027 Punjab Assembly elections will be fought under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge. Corruption remains our principal issue, and we will take it aggressively to the public,” Baghel told reporters.

Political observers note that the party is currently evaluating multiple leadership scenarios to address internal caste dynamics. Presently, both Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Partap Singh Bajwa belong to the influential Jat Sikh community.

Sources privy to the developments indicated that one scenario involves replacing Raja Warring as state chief to accommodate a prominent Hindu face. Former Sangrur MP Vijay Inder Singla has emerged as a top contender for the post under this formula, while Bajwa would continue to lead the legislative wing.

Alternatively, the party is also considering a change of guard in the legislature. Sources said Dinanagar MLA Aruna Chaudhary, a prominent Hindu-Dalit face, is being considered for the LoP post. Her elevation would allow the party to project a broader social coalition, while Bajwa could be transitioned into a significant organizational role.

However, a section within the party remains wary of removing a Jat Sikh leader from the top organizational post, particularly after the BJP recently appointed Kewal Singh Dhillon as its state unit chief. Party insiders fear that replacing Warring with a Hindu face could alienate the Jat Sikh peasantry, pointing to past electoral setbacks where aggressive shifts in social engineering did not yield expected dividends.

Meanwhile, fresh political speculation has been triggered by recent remarks made by former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.

Amarinder, who quit the Congress in 2021 and subsequently joined the BJP, recently raised eyebrows by praising the internal functioning of his former party. The veteran leader noted that while decision-making in the Congress involved consultative advice, the current setup in the saffron party remains largely centralized.

Expressing implicit disappointment over the lack of personal outreach from the BJP leadership, Amarinder highlighted that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had personally extended condolences following the demise of his cousin Raja Randhir Singh, besides sending him birthday wishes.

Demographic balancing remains a critical factor in Punjab’s electoral arithmetic. While Dalits constitute the state’s largest vote bank with a heavy concentration in the 23-seat Doaba belt, Jat Sikhs remain highly influential, particularly in the crucial Malwa region, which accounts for 69 of the 117 Assembly seats. Hindus form the second-largest population bloc, holding significant sway over urban and semi-urban constituencies.

With the Congress high command intensifying its script for 2027, an official announcement regarding the structural realignment of the Punjab unit is expected shortly, sources added.