No leadership change in Punjab Congress, says Baghel after meeting with Kharge, Rahul

Rejecting speculation of a leadership change in Punjab, Congress general secretary in-charge Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday asserted that the party would go into next year’s Assembly elections under collective leadership.

His remarks came after a high-level meeting with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, former party chief Rahul Gandhi and general secretary KC Venugopal at Kharge's residence in New Delhi.

“A meeting on Punjab was held a few days ago, and another was held today as the Assembly elections are approaching. Serious deliberations have been held on the way forward,” Baghel told reporters.

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Calling the reports mere media speculation, Baghel asserted that there would be no change in leadership. He said Amarinder Singh Raja Warring would continue as Punjab Congress chief and that the party would contest the Assembly polls under the leadership of Kharge and Rahul, with the state unit functioning collectively.

Targeting the ruling AAP government, Baghel said Punjab continued to grapple with issues such as law and order, corruption and drugs. Taking a swipe at the party's anti-corruption plank, he said the AAP had gone from being a party of "kattar imandaar" (dead honest) to one of "kattar beimaan" (utterly dishonest).

The meeting came days after another round of discussions on Punjab at Kharge’s residence attended by Rahul and Venugopal. After that meeting, Baghel had said the Congress would soon finalise an action plan and take to the streets ahead of the Assembly elections due early next year.

Former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, former deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Punjab Congress chief Warring and senior leader Vijay Inder Singla were among those present at the meeting.

(With agency inputs)