Chandigarh: With Punjab set to go to Assembly elections in February 2027, the Congress leadership is pushing the state unit to regain ground against the Aam Aadmi Party government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann.
As part of the preparations, Amarinder Singh Warring has been reappointed as Punjab Congress president. The decision has reportedly upset sections of the party, with some leaders unhappy that Warring—who has held the post since 2022—has been continued.
Amid this backdrop, Congress MP and former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, setting off a wave of speculation and confusion within the party. With the BJP believed to be trying to draw leaders from other parties, the meeting has raised questions about possible political realignments.
Randhawa has said the discussion was only about Punjab’s security and that no politics was discussed, but the explanation has not convinced many in the party. Separately, there is talk that Congress MP and former Union minister Manish Tewari—who has recently spoken against Rahul Gandhi and is said to have been sidelined in the state unit—also met Shah.
Party sources say campaign committee chief and former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi is also unhappy with Warring’s reappointment. Congress workers fear resignations by some MPs and warn that internal rifts could deepen well before the election.
