Raja Warring formally resigns as Punjab Congress chief after meeting Rahul Gandhi

Congress leader Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Friday met former party president Rahul Gandhi and handed him his formal resignation as the chief of the Punjab unit.

Warring headed the state Congress for over four years, and his resignation comes ahead of assembly polls in the state due early next year.

Longstanding infight in the state unit preceded his resignation.

The Congress recently replaced its AICC in-charge Bhupesh Baghel -- who spent weeks in Punjab recently to placate fighting factions -- and appointed Sachin Pilot in his place.

Former state minister Vijay Inder Singla already leads the race to become the new party chief in Punjab. Singla is also a co-treasurer of AICC and oversees the party's properties.

"I met Rahul Gandhi and formally gave him my resignation," Warring told reporters after meeting Gandhi.

"He (Rahul Gandhi) gave me a lot of love. He sought information about the current political situation in Punjab, on what is happening with the government and what we should be doing there. This was the information he sought," he said.

Warring said he told Gandhi about the challenges the Congress faces in Punjab as well as its strengths.

"I discussed with him our challenges and how we have to fight those challenges and where our strengths lie.

"He made me the state Congress chief, and I thanked him for giving me the opportunity to lead the state Congress in difficult circumstances. I assured him that I am ready to serve the party whenever the party requires me," Warring said.