Baghel says everyone is united on Punjab Cong chief issue, Channi camp bats for 'uncompromised' leader

Chandigarh, Jul 11 (PTI) Congress general secretary in-charge of Punjab Bhupesh Baghel on Saturday claimed no one in the state has any objection to the party high command's decision on the state chief even as those close to Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi said they want a leader who is not "compromised". Around noon, Baghel held a nearly 80-minute meeting at senior Congress leader and party legislator Rana Gurjit's Sector 4 residence here. Channi and leaders close to him attended it but state Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring was not a part of it. Immediately after the meeting, Baghel left the venue to fly back to Raipur. Warring drove the former Chhattisgarh chief minister to the airport. "Everything is fine. All is well (in Punjab Congress)," Baghel told PTI Videos after landing in Delhi. On July 1, the Congress announced that Warring would continue as the Punjab unit president and appointed Channi as chairperson of the campaign committee. Said to be "miffed" at not being appointed the state unit president, Channi had not met Baghel, who arrived in Punjab on Monday and held a series of meetings with party leaders and office-bearers. Several leaders close to Channi had also stayed away. Shortly after Saturday's meeting, senior leader and MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa told reporters that feelings of workers were conveyed and it was also stated that in a party, sometimes decisions have to be taken back. He indicated that Warring was not acceptable to the Channi camp. It was conveyed that the situation in Punjab under the AAP is such that corruption is rampant and law and order has worsened and only a united Congress can take on the Bhagwant Mann government and for this they need such a leader who can take them on and speak fearlessly and assertively, he said. "Sanu thok ka bolne wala leader chhahiye, sanu compromised leader nahi zaroorat. (..We don't want a compromised leader)," Randhawa said in Punjabi without taking any name. Baghel said after arriving in Punjab on Monday, he has held meetings with several leaders and was invited to many of their residences. With Punjab set to go to polls early in 2027, meetings were held with many related committees as well. On his meeting with the Channi camp, Baghel said, "I spoke to all colleagues and they shared their views with me. No one has any objection to the decision of the party high command; they are all with the high command. "Everyone stands united. There were a few issues that our colleagues raised and as the general secretary in-charge, I assured them that I would safeguard and keep in mind everyone's interests." "Secondly, some colleagues have conveyed and raised certain concerns, which I will convey to the high command," he added without elaborating. Asked whether a demand was raised to change Warring, Baghel said, "Aise koyee baat nahi huyi" (no such thing came up)". Channi reached Gurjit's residence along with senior leaders Randhawa, Bharat Bhushan Ashu and Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa among others. Leader of Opposition and senior party leader Partap Singh Bajwa, who was invited by Gurjit Singh, and former deputy chief minister O P Singh were also present at the meeting. Reacting to Randhawa's "compromised leader" remark, Warring told reporters, "Who is compromised? Has Randhawa ji taken any names? If not, why are you people pointing it at me?" At the same time, Warring said Randhawa and he have been working together for past nearly five years and if anyone of them was compromised, they could not have stayed together then. "But Randhawa is right that there should not be any sleeper cell or compromised leader in our party. Many are accused of meeting BJP leaders, some leaders from Uttar Pradesh, and at times leaders from the Aam Aadmi Party. Punjab does not need a compromised leader and sleeper cell," Warring said. Later, in another brief interaction outside the airport here, Baghel said, "Yes, I agree that any leader who is compromised will not work. If any leader will be compromised by BJP, AAP or any other leader, it will not work. It is my responsibility that I won't let it happen." Replying to a question, he said no issue was raised that Channi should be declared chief ministerial face for Punjab polls. "No such talk happened. We only want Congress to form government," he said. Before entering Rana Gurjit's residence, when asked if Warring was acceptable to them as the state unit president, Channi said that everything would be discussed in the meeting. When it was pointed out that many of his supporters said they did not accept Warring's leadership, he said, "Let us discuss first. You know from the beginning what our stand is." He added in a cryptic remark, "Baaki tel dekhenge tel ki daar dekhenge (wait and watch)." In a post on X Friday evening, Channi wrote, "United for Punjab. We have invited Punjab Congress in-charge Bhupesh Baghel ji on July 11 to place before him the sentiments of Congress workers and the people of Punjab." When asked about his absence at the meeting, Warring said from another venue, "The party's general secretary in-charge meets everyone. It is not necessary that all meetings have to happen in the presence of the state unit president." When asked by reporters if the Punjab Congress would see unity soon, Warring quipped, "This meeting is about that." Despite their initial reluctance, Channi and senior Congress leaders close to him on Thursday decided to finally end days of suspense and meet Baghel to apprise him of the party workers' "sentiments". Several sitting MLAs from Punjab Congress, some MPs, former MPs and MLAs, and leaders from across various constituencies reached Rana Gurjit's residence in the morning. Indicating a show of strength by the Channi camp, party leader Barinder Dhillon told reporters, "Tell me one leader who is not here today. The entire Congress is here." Former minister Gurpreet Kangar said before the meeting that it was being held specifically to discuss whether Warring's leadership was acceptable to them or not. On Monday, several senior leaders met in Mohali in Channi's presence, days after several incumbent and former MLAs threw their weight behind the Jalandhar MP to be reconsidered for the state party president's post. Baghel had already ruled out any change in the state party leadership. PTI SUN VSD ZMN