State in-charge Baghel meets Punjab Cong leaders amid ‘infighting’; Channi camp ‘skips’

Chandigarh, Jul 7 (PTI) Amid reports of infighting in the Punjab Congress, AICC general secretary in charge of the state, Bhupesh Baghel, on Tuesday held pre-schedule meetings with party leaders, even though those backing Charanjit Singh Channi as the state unit chief are yet to meet him. State Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, however, claimed that ex-chief minister Channi would meet Baghel in a day or two. Replying to a question, Warring said that Baghel held meetings with the chairpersons of various committees, barring two. Channi, the chairperson of the party's campaign committee, and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, the head of the core committee, would meet Baghel in a day or two, Warring said. “Channi had told Baghel that he would be out for a day or two,” he said. Other leaders considered close to Channi, including Bharat Bhushan Ashu, are yet to meet Baghel, who began his five-day Punjab tour on Monday to meet senior party leaders, office-bearers and workers. Warring and senior leader Partap Singh Bajwa went to receive Baghel at the airport on Monday, even as Channi and other leaders from his camp were conspicuous by their absence. On Tuesday, Baghel had a breakfast meeting with Punjab Congress working president Raj Kumar Verka. Verka also met Channi separately, as the party leadership appeared to intensify its efforts to reach out to the ‘dissident’ camp led by Channi. When told that no one from the Channi camp has met him so far, Baghel said, “As I said yesterday, I am here this week. Give me 2-3 days, and then I will speak to you. Allow me to work, and I will get back to you." Verka told reporters that all the issues will be resolved. “Things will be resolved. There is no problem at all,” he said. With Punjab going to the polls early next year, Baghel, the former chief minister of Chhattisgarh, said that the Congress is the “only option” that the people of the state are looking forward to. On Monday, Partap Singh Bajwa admitted that there may be some problems within the state unit but assured that all the issues will be sorted out. “There is nothing that cannot be sorted out,” Bajwa stressed. On Tuesday, he again told PTI Videos that all the issues will be resolved, suggesting to party leaders that whatever may be their problems, they should ensure that no one crosses the “Lakshman Rekha”. “The people of Punjab want change, and the only viable alternative is the Congress. If we are together, people will look forward to us. Positions can be decided once we form the government (in Punjab). If we don’t live up to the people's expectations, we will have to sit in the opposition,” he said. Without directly referring to some leaders seeking a change in the state president’s post, Bajwa said there is no problem in aspiring. “But no action should be taken that becomes the topic of discussion among people.” Stating that Channi is like his younger brother, Bajwa said, “We share the best of relationships. Differences are there in every party. But they should not come out (in public).” If any leader needs to make a sacrifice in the party's interest, there is no loss in that, he said, adding that he was not referring to anyone in particular. Bajwa also said that the party should deal with every issue at the earliest, as Assembly elections are barely a few months away. In a poetic post on X in Hindi, Bhagel said, “Kehna Sunna Jari Hai, Milna-Julna Jari Hai. Keh Raha Hai Har Punjabi Abki Baar Congress Ki Bhari Hai (Talking and listening continues, meeting and mingling continues; every Punjabi is saying it's the Congress' turn to form government this time).” Chairing a meeting of district congress committee presidents, Bhagel expressed confidence that the party is prepared for the battle ahead. “People of Punjab are feeling completely disillusioned with the Aam Aadmi Party, which not only betrayed them, but took the state to the brink of bankruptcy and lawlessness,” Baghel said. “The other opposition parties, such as the Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP, are nowhere in the reckoning, as people are looking forward only to the Congress. This is the time to live up to people’s expectations. “There is complete unity of purpose and mission among the party leaders and workers, which is to see the Congress back in the saddle in Punjab,” he said. On Monday, several senior Congress leaders held a meeting in Mohali in the presence of Channi, days after several incumbent and former MLAs threw their weight behind the Lok Sabha member to be reconsidered for the state unit chief's post. An announcement to retain Warring as the Punjab Congress chief came last Wednesday, alongside the unveiling of the party's various committees for the 2027 state polls. Asked about the issue, Baghel said on Monday that he would comment on the matter in two to three days. Bhagel has so far held meetings with Bajwa, manifesto committee chairperson Amar Singh, election management and coordination committee head Vijay Inder Singla, former speaker Rana K P Singh, and co-chairman of the campaign committee Sukhpal Singh Khaira, among others. PTI SUN VSD ARI