Congress eyes leadership overhaul in Punjab ahead of 2027 polls, favouring Jat or Hindu candidate.
New Delhi: The Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) is likely to get a new state president soon, as the Congress party begins preparations for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. With former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel now appointed as the general secretary in charge of Punjab, the party high command has reportedly started discussions on changing the current leadership of the state unit. Baghel’s assessment of the situation strongly indicates that the party is leaning toward appointing a Jat leader instead of a Dalit leader like former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi as the next PPCC president.
According to a source familiar with the matter, the issue of leadership change in Punjab was also discussed during a recent meeting of All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretaries held in New Delhi.
Baghel, in his recent assessment presented to the Congress high command, highlighted the political dynamics of Punjab. He has reportedly conveyed that choosing a Dalit leader like Channi would not be a strategic move, as the state is predominantly Jat-dominated. Baghel emphasised that the party should consider appointing a Jat face to lead the state unit, asserting that opting for a Dalit leader may not yield favourable electoral results.
A senior Congress leader, speaking to The Sunday Guardian, mentioned that there is also a segment within the party advocating for a Hindu face for the PPCC president post.
“The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has named Aman Arora as its state unit president to consolidate Hindu votes. If we want to stop Hindu votes from moving toward the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), we should also consider a Hindu face. The PPCC is largely dominated by Jat leaders, which is causing unease among both Dalit and Hindu voters,” said the leader.
Meanwhile, several senior Congress leaders are actively lobbying for the coveted position. The names doing the rounds include Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa, Vijay Inder Singla, Rana Gurjeet Singh, Pargat Singh, former Speaker Rana K.P. Singh, and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. While Channi was initially a strong contender, Baghel’s assessment has effectively sidelined him, making it clear to the party leadership that someone else will be preferred for the role.
Adding to the challenges, internal discord has plagued the Punjab unit, complicating efforts to rejuvenate the party in the state. The infighting has become so intense that Rana Gurjeet Singh publicly criticised both Bajwa and current state president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring over the denial of a Lok Sabha ticket to his son. Warring, in response, warned Gurjeet against airing grievances in the media and urged him to raise such concerns on party platforms. Some leaders have raised objections to Warring’s style of leadership, alleging that he fails to involve all stakeholders in the decision-making process. Additionally, some party leaders have voiced concerns that allowing sitting MPs to exert influence in state politics could lead to increased factionalism within the organisation.
