Tussle for Punjab Cong chief post: Baghel meets leaders from Channi camp

Chandigarh, Jul 11 (PTI) Amid a tussle over the Punjab Congress leadership, AICC general secretary in-charge for the state Bhupesh Baghel held a meeting here on Saturday with party leaders considered close to former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi. The meeting, attended by Channi, was held at senior Punjab Congress leader and legislator Rana Gurjit's Sector 4 residence here. Baghel reached Rana Gurjit's residence at around 12.15 pm. On July 1, the Congress announced that Amrinder Singh Raja Warring would continue as the Punjab unit president and Channi, the Jalandhar MP, would be chairperson of the campaign committee. Said to be "miffed" after not being appointed the state party president, Channi had not met Baghel who arrived in Punjab on Monday and had been holding a series of meetings with state leaders and office-bearers. Several leaders close to Channi also stayed away from the meetings. Baghel, the former Chhattisgarh chief minister, is scheduled to fly back to Raipur immediately after the meeting. Before entering Rana Gurjit's residence, Channi told reporters, "We are going to attend the meeting and talk to everyone. We will let you know." Asked if Warring was acceptable to them as the state Congress president, Channi said 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." In a cryptic remark, he added, "Baaki tel dekhenge tel ki daar dekhenge (wait and watch)." In an X post on 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." Warring was not part of Saturday's meeting with Baghel. When asked 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 if the Punjab Congress would see unity, 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". Channi reached Rana Gurjit's residence on Saturday, along with senior leaders Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa and several other leaders. Leader of Opposition and senior party leader Partap Singh Bajwa, who was invited by Rana Gurjit Singh, and former deputy chief minister O P Singh were also present at the meeting. 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. When asked before the meeting if the Channi camp had not invited Warring, senior leader and MP Sukhjinder Randhawa said, "He (Warring) can better reply whether he was not invited or he is not coming." The meeting's host Rana Gurjit Singh said several leaders from across the state have arrived at his residence. 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 the meeting was being held specifically to discuss whether Warring's leadership was acceptable to them or not. Another party leader, Inderbir Bolaria, said that Baghel will be apprised about the "sentiments and ground realities". "Our senior leader Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa had earlier said that there are some things that we want to convey to the party high command. We will place these issues before Baghel, so that he can convey it to the high command," Bolaria said. Since his arrival in the state on Monday, Baghel has held a series of meetings with several party leaders and office-bearers, even as the party is gearing up for the 2027 assembly polls. 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. Dismissing speculation about a rethink on Warring's retention in the post, Baghel said on Wednesday, "When the high command has taken a decision, it will not be changed. Koi gudda-guddi ka khel hai kya ke baar-baar nirnay badla jaega? (Is this a child's play that the decision will be changed repeatedly)?" After an initial reluctance, leaders in the Channi camp on Thursday decided to meet Baghel. "We will meet Baghel and present our views," Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh had said. PTI SUN VSD RUK RUK