Amid continuing factionalism in the Punjab Congress, 15 party MLAs have written to senior leader Rahul Gandhi seeking a meeting with him, party sources said on Tuesday. The legislators are expected to raise concerns over infighting within the state unit and discuss the party’s strategy for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. A Congress MLA confirmed that a letter seeking an appointment with Gandhi had been sent but declined to disclose the specific issues the legislators intend to discuss.
The development comes as the Punjab Congress continues to grapple with internal divisions despite repeated efforts by the central leadership to project unity ahead of the next Assembly polls.
The differences became more pronounced after the Congress leadership announced on July 1 that Amrinder Singh Raja Warring would continue as Punjab Congress president while former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi was appointed chairman of the party’s campaign committee.
A section of party leaders aligned with Channi opposed Warring’s continuation as state unit chief and sought his removal. Channi’s supporters have also been pressing the leadership to declare the former chief minister as the party’s chief ministerial candidate for the 2027 elections.
The internal divisions were openly visible during the Congress’s ‘Har Booth, Congress Mazboot’ campaign, held from July 31 to August 8.
At several meetings, Channi’s supporters raised slogans in his favour, while verbal confrontations were reported between supporters of Channi and Warring.
Posters carrying the message “Go back Baghel” also surfaced in Muktsar, highlighting discontent against Congress general secretary in charge of Punjab Bhupesh Baghel.
The signs of factionalism emerged in the presence of both Baghel and Warring, adding to concerns within the party over its ability to maintain a united front ahead of the elections.
Following opposition to the decision to retain Warring as Punjab Congress president, Baghel undertook a six-day visit to the state and held meetings with party leaders in an attempt to address their concerns.
The Congress high command had also engaged with senior state leaders amid the growing differences.
Channi subsequently met AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal in Delhi on July 16. After the meeting, the former chief minister sought to play down reports of a rift, saying “all is well” and asserting that he and other leaders would abide by decisions taken by the party high command.
The latest move by the 15 MLAs indicates that concerns over the functioning and leadership of the state unit continue despite those reconciliation efforts.
The Congress had announced several election-related committees on July 1 as part of its preparations for the 2027 Assembly polls, including Channi’s appointment as campaign committee chairman.
With the elections approaching, the proposed meeting with Gandhi is expected to provide the legislators an opportunity to present their concerns directly to the central leadership and discuss the party’s organisational and electoral strategy in Punjab.