Raja Warring resigns as Punjab Congress chief; says Sachin Pilot may have wanted change

Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Friday (October 2) met Rahul Gandhi in Delhi and formally submitted his resignation as Punjab Congress chief, ending his four-and-a-half-year stint as head of the state unit.

Warring said he had a detailed discussion with Rahul about the situation in Punjab and the challenges before the party, reported NDTV.

Says resignation was his own decision

The resignation comes amid differences within the Punjab Congress, with some senior leaders pushing for a change in the state leadership. Warring, the Lok Sabha MP from Ludhiana, had led the party in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, when Congress won seven of Punjab’s 13 seats.

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Warring said his resignation was his own decision and that he had not been forced to step down. “I was not asked to resign,” he added.

He said he chose to submit his resignation to Rahul because he was the leader who had appointed him as Punjab Congress chief. Warring took charge of the state unit in April 2022.

'Nobody can remain at the top forever'

“Reaching the top is an achievement, but nobody can remain at the top forever,” Warring said.

Speaking about his meeting with Rahul, Warring said he answered questions about Punjab and shared his views on the party’s situation.

Also Read: Congress gets a new Pilot in Punjab, but will its Warring stop?

“I met my leader, Rahul Gandhi. I answered the questions he asked about Punjab and shared my thoughts. He showed great affection,” Warring said, as quoted by ANI.

“A tenure can be long or short, but it should be one that people remember. My tenure as a minister was exactly that kind—memorable—and one should be grateful for what one receives,” he added.

Vijay Inder Singla among possible successors

Congress Working Committee member Vijay Inder Singla is among the names being considered to replace Warring. A former Education and PWD minister and former Sangrur MP, Singla was also given charge of the party’s election management committee.

The leadership change follows the Congress’ July 1 decision to retain Warring as state president while appointing former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi as campaign committee chief. The arrangement failed to settle differences within the state unit.

Warring on Sachin Pilot

Warring also spoke about his relationship with Punjab Congress in-charge Sachin Pilot, saying they had met only once after Pilot took charge.

“When he was appointed in charge, I went to formally congratulate him. I spoke with him for about 15 minutes that day... but I haven't met him since,” Warring said.

Also Read: Punjab: Congress protests over power cuts, Warring detained as police use water cannons

Warring suggested Pilot may have felt that he should be replaced, but said he had no proof.

“Given my long journey in politics, I feel that Sachin Pilot must have decided it was time to remove 'Raja' from the post. I don't have concrete proof of this, but perhaps the General Secretary felt that Raja should be removed,” he said.

Warring said he had already put his views before Rahul. “I have conveyed what I had to say to Rahul Gandhi. There is no one left after Rahul Gandhi to whom I could explain what should or shouldn't happen,” he added.