Pro-Channi slogans disrupt Congress event in Barnala
The internal rift within Punjab Congress showed no signs of abating despite efforts by the top party leadership, as supporters of former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi raised slogans at a party programme in Barnala on Sunday, in the presence of Bhupesh Baghel, AICC general secretary in-charge for the state.
Channi's supporters have increasingly resorted to sloganeering at Congress events even as the party prepares for campaigning ahead of assembly elections due early next year. Pro-Channi slogans had similarly disrupted "Har Booth Congress Mazboot" programmes in Patiala and Sangrur on Saturday.
At the Barnala event, a group of party workers began raising slogans in favour of Channi, briefly interrupting proceedings. Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring urged them to let the meeting continue, telling them, "No nara (slogan)." Barnala MLA Kuldip Singh Kala Dhillon got down from the stage in an attempt to calm the dissidents.
Without naming anyone, Dhillon said, "In this state, there are five to seven leaders who speak in Delhi and make up their own stories. Sitting at Indira Bhawan in Delhi, they speak about strengthening the Congress. Then they come back and start harming others (in the state). We need to remain cautious of these people."
Former minister Razia Sultana said those who deliberately disrupt the party's atmosphere should be shown the door. "If anybody has an issue, they should say that before the high command," she said.
Punjab Congress has been grappling with factionalism despite repeated assurances from the leadership that efforts are underway to strengthen organisational unity ahead of the 2027 Punjab elections. The infighting intensified after the Congress leadership announced on July 1 that it would retain Warring as state unit chief while appointing Jalandhar MP Channi as chairperson of its campaign committee.
As the leadership tussle deepened, Baghel asserted on Saturday that the Congress high command would decide the party's chief ministerial candidate and ministers only after the Punjab assembly elections. Baghel, who had on Friday denied the existence of factionalism within the state unit, warned that anyone indulging in indiscipline would be shown the door.
Channi, too, urged party workers on Saturday to maintain discipline during meetings and refrain from sloganeering that could create internal discord. "Our fight is not among ourselves. Our fight is for Punjab. We have to strengthen Congress and take everyone along," Channi said, adding that the party should focus on issues affecting Punjab rather than internal rivalries.
Baghel, currently on a tour of the poll-bound state, is scheduled to visit several assembly constituencies and hold meetings with the party's district- and block-level leaders.
(With inputs from PTI)
