Sri Muktsar Sahib (Punjab) [India], August 3 (ANI): Amid the speculation of deep-seated factionalism and internal fractures plaguing the Punjab Congress, state party president and Member of Parliament Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Monday attacked both political rivals and party insiders, alleging that disloyal colleagues are actively working to undermine his leadership.
Addressing a gathering in his home constituency of Sri Muktsar Sahib, Warring sought emotional solace from his supporters while directly confronting the blame shifted onto him for the party’s historic electoral setback in the state.
“Today, I have found peace after coming here because I have come to my own home. Everyone wants to target your son. The SAD, BJP, and AAP are already after me, and some of our own people have become disloyal,” Warring stated.
A central point of friction within the Punjab Congress has been the accountability for the party’s dramatic collapse in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, where its tally plummeted from 80 seats to just 18.
Responding to internal detractors who hold his current stewardship responsible for the party’s diminished footprint, Warring pushed back, pointing to the long-standing leadership under former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh.
“The only mistake is that when the Congress Party had 80 seats, we came down from 80 to 18 seats. Is that my fault? Captain Amarinder Singh led the government twice. From 80 seats, we came down to 18 seats,” he questioned.
Warring’s remarks come amid the ongoing tussle within the Punjab Congress over its leadership ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. The supporters of former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi today raised slogans demanding that he be declared the party’s chief ministerial face during a public meeting in Bathinda.
The meeting was attended by Punjab Congress in-charge and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring.
The sloganeering began as Raja Warring started addressing the gathering. He then called one of the slogan-raising supporters onto the stage and asked him to place a phone call to Charanjit Singh Channi.
Further, Supporters repeatedly demanded that the Congress leadership project Channi as the party’s chief ministerial face for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. During the commotion, some supporters were also seen lifting chairs.
The incident comes amid visible jockeying within the Punjab Congress over leadership and the party’s strategy for the next Assembly polls.
As the protest disrupted the event, Raja Warring invited one of the vocal supporters onto the stage and offered to connect him via phone to Channi directly. While managing the unruly crowd and urging attendees to settle down, Warring addressed the dissent and defended party unity, while Channi’s supporters continued to push for his leadership over the current state leadership. (ANI)