Raja Warring set to quit as Punjab Congress chief; Vijay Inder Singla frontrunner
Congress high command has reportedly informed Warring of the leadership change, with the party weighing several contenders ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly poll
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring is set to resign after weeks of factional tension in the state unit, with former minister and MP Vijay Inder Singla emerging as the frontrunner. The revelation came to the fore in a PTI report quoting party sources.
The Congress high command has informed Warring about the decision, following which he has offered to resign, stated the report. The party is expected to announce his successor soon, ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly polls.
Singla emerges as frontrunner for state post
Singla, who is a Hindu leader and Congress Working Committee member, was appointed chairperson of the party’s election management and coordination committee on July 1.
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Besides Singla, former Olympian and Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh, former MLA Rana KP Singh, Raja Sansi MLA Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa are also being considered for the post.
Congress weighs contenders amid factionalism
The leadership change was discussed at a recent meeting involving Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal and Punjab affairs in-charge Sachin Pilot.
The party is looking for a leader who can bring the Warring and Channi camps together before the 2027 polls. Pilot took charge of Punjab affairs with factionalism in the state unit among his immediate challenges.
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The faction feud in the party intensified after the Congress High Command retained Warring as state president on July 1 and appointed Channi as campaign committee chairperson. Channi’s supporters opposed Warring’s continuation and sought his removal. They have also demanded that Channi be declared the party’s Chief Ministerial face for the 2027 polls.
Leadership change follows months of tensions
Earlier attempts by former general secretary in-charge of Punjab affairs and former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel to ease tensions failed to end the differences.
Also Read: Punjab Congress crisis: Baghel holds meetings, assures 'everything will be fine'
The development comes after months of visible differences within the Punjab unit, adding pressure on the Congress before the Assembly polls.
Punjab Congress has faced earlier factional disputes
Punjab Congress has faced factional disputes before. In 2021, the party removed Amarinder Singh as Chief Minister after a prolonged tussle with Navjot Singh Sidhu and later appointed Channi. Channi lost from both Chamkaur Sahib and Bhadaur in the 2022 Assembly polls.
The Congress won 18 seats in the 2022 elections, down from 77 seats in 2017.
(With agency inputs)