A faction of Punjab Congress leaders opposed to state unit chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring met party general secretary Bhupesh Baghel in Chandigarh on Saturday, 11 July, pressing their demand for Warring's removal even as Baghel maintained that no such discussion took place. The rival camp, led by former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and comprising over 90 sitting and former lawmakers, has been at loggerheads with the high command since Warring was retained as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president earlier this month.

What the Rival Camp Demanded

Member of Parliament Sukhjinder Randhawa, a former state Home Minister, was unequivocal after the meeting. 'Sometimes the party must reverse certain decisions. Our demand to the leadership present today is clear. We want a Congress government in Punjab, and we want to address issues like the law-and-order situation and corruption. To achieve this, we need unity within the party, but we also need leaders who speak boldly and decisively. We do not need compromised leaders,' he said.

The rival faction gave specific instances of how Warring had allegedly created divisions within the party leadership, according to those present. Legislator Rana Gurjeet Singh, who hosted the meeting, said all sides were given a hearing. 'In other parties, no one is allowed to voice their complaints; this only happens in the Congress party,' he noted.

What Baghel Said

Baghel, who had spent five days in Chandigarh before returning to Delhi, sought to project unity while acknowledging underlying concerns. 'Yes, I agree that any leader who is compromised will not work. If any leader will be compromised by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), it will not work. It is my responsibility that I won't let it happen,' he said.

The former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister added that he would convey all grievances to the party high command. 'Everyone agrees that the party should abide by the decision of the high command, and there is no objection to that. Everyone stands united,' he said, while also assuring deserving candidates of tickets. Crucially, Baghel clarified that there was no discussion on the replacement of Raja Warring — a direct contradiction of what the rival bloc publicly stated.

On reports of Channi being projected as the Chief Ministerial face for the upcoming Punjab Assembly polls, Baghel was dismissive. 'This is false. There is no such talk happened. We only want Congress to form government,' he said.

Background: The Channi-Warring Fault Line

The internal discord is not new. Supporters of Channi — one of the party's prominent Dalit faces — had earlier expressed solidarity with him and demanded he be appointed state Congress chief in place of Warring. On 3 July, they issued a week's ultimatum to the central leadership, warning that 'under Warring's leadership, the Congress cannot come to power.'

The high command's decision to retain Warring as PPCC president despite the ultimatum has deepened the rift, with the rival camp now seeking a direct audience with the top brass.

What Happens Next

Baghel has committed to presenting the faction's concerns to the Congress high command, but has stopped short of signalling any leadership change. With Punjab's assembly election cycle approaching, the party faces mounting pressure to resolve the internal power struggle before it becomes an electoral liability. Whether the high command moves to accommodate the Channi camp or holds firm behind Warring will define the party's organisational posture in the state for the foreseeable future.