Amid the ongoing crisis over the leadership issue in Punjab Congress, former Chief Minister and MP Charanjit Singh Channi and his group met party General Secretary KC Venugopal for more than three hours and after the meeting, Channi appeared to be softening his tone. He announced that all is well within the party. He said that ‘everyone in the party is with the high command. We had presented our stand, we did not want to embarrass the party. We expressed our views, the high command decided. Now everything is fine.
However, when Pargat Singh and Rana Gurjit Singh were asked about the outcome of the meeting, all the leaders avoided any comment and repeatedly said that everything is fine in the party and they are loyal to party leader Rahul Gandhi and will work as per the orders of the party. According to sources, it has also been revealed that Channi had tried to take time to meet Rahul Gandhi, but he reportedly refused to give time for it.
What is the leadership dispute of Punjab?
In fact, the Congress leadership had announced on July 1 that Amarinder Singh Raja Wading would continue as the Punjab Congress President. However, Channi had reportedly opposed the decision and was demanding a change of leadership, with some senior leaders also joining him in the campaign.
Meanwhile, AICC Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel has submitted a report to Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal. According to sources, the report has recommended retaining Wadding as state president, adding that 25 out of 29 district presidents of Punjab and four out of seven MPs support him. After meeting Venugopal in Delhi, Baghel indicated that there will be no change in the leadership of Punjab. He said that this is not a child’s play.
Assembly elections will be held in Punjab next year
Actually, there is a possibility of elections in Punjab early next year and the Congress party is busy in preparations for the same. After appointing the new Congress team for the assembly elections, Baghel met several leaders in Chandigarh and on the last day of his tour met dissident leaders under the leadership of Channi.
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