Pro-Channi slogans erupted for the second consecutive day at an internal Indian National Congress (Congress) outreach meeting in Barnala, Punjab, on Sunday, 2 August, as supporters of former Chief Minister and sitting MP Charanjit Singh Channi publicly challenged the state party leadership in the presence of senior central leadership. The open dissent signals deepening factional tensions ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.

What Happened at Barnala

Congress General Secretary In-Charge Bhupesh Baghel and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring were conducting a grassroots outreach drive in Barnala town when Channi loyalists disrupted proceedings with chants of 'Charanjit Singh Channi Zindabad' and 'Punjab Bachao, Channi Lao' — loosely translated as 'Long live Channi' and 'Save Punjab by bringing back Channi.' The slogans were a direct demand that Channi replace Warring as the state unit chief before the next state polls.

A Pattern Across Three Cities

The Barnala episode was the third in a rapid sequence. On Saturday, Channi supporters embarrassed Baghel in Patiala by raising pro-Channi slogans during Warring's proceedings. Hours later, Channi and Warring camps clashed again in Sangrur, also in Baghel's presence. The back-to-back disruptions across multiple districts suggest a coordinated campaign rather than spontaneous dissent.

The Channi Camp's Demands

Last month, Channi — along with roughly 90 leaders including Members of Parliament and legislators — issued an ultimatum to the Congress central leadership, warning that the party cannot return to power in Punjab under Warring's stewardship. His supporters have cited specific instances of Warring allegedly creating divisions within the party structure, though Warring has not publicly responded to those specific allegations.

What the Party Leadership Said

Former Minister Razia Sultana, described as a Warring confidant, demanded strict action against those disrupting party meetings. 'There are some people who want to vitiate the party's atmosphere. Those responsible should be expelled from the party. We will not allow any leader to disturb the organisation,' she said, asserting that Congress is united and will return to power in Punjab in 2027. Warring, for his part, appealed for calm and stressed that while every worker has the right to express views, 'organisational discipline is equally important.' Baghel has reiterated that the choice of Chief Minister and ministers — should Congress win the mandate — rests with the party high command, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi. He has framed the broader mission as saving Punjab from what he called 'the misrule of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government.'

What This Means for 2027

With the Punjab Assembly elections still roughly two years away, the public nature of the infighting hands AAP a ready-made narrative. Congress lost Punjab to AAP in 2022 in a landslide, and a fractured state unit risks compounding that defeat. The central leadership's reluctance so far to publicly back either Channi or Warring may be a deliberate attempt to keep both factions engaged — but the strategy is visibly fraying under the pressure of consecutive public confrontations.