Congress brings in Sachin Pilot as Punjab in-charge, shifts Bhupesh Baghel to Assam

In a significant organisational reshuffle ahead of next year’s Assembly elections, the Congress has appointed Sachin Pilot as its general secretary in-charge of Punjab, replacing former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel amid continuing factional differences in the state unit.

Baghel has been shifted to Assam, while Pilot, who was handling Chhattisgarh, will take charge of Punjab at a time when the party leadership is trying to contain differences between the camp led by Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and a group of senior leaders led by former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi.

The appointments, approved by Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, take effect immediately. The reshuffle comes a day after the party’s central leadership held discussions in Delhi on the situation in Punjab, where differences among senior leaders have persisted despite attempts at reconciliation.

Factionalism remains challenge

The principal fault line in the Punjab unit has been over Warring’s continuation as Pradesh Congress Committee president. The party leadership retained him in the post in July while appointing Channi as chairman of the campaign committee, but the arrangement failed to end differences within the organisation.

Several senior leaders aligned with Channi have pressed for Warring’s removal. The differences became increasingly visible during Baghel’s visits to Punjab, with some leaders questioning his handling of the dispute and accusing him of leaning towards the state Congress president.

Factional tensions also surfaced during the party’s nine-day “Har Booth, Congress Mazboot” campaign, when supporters of rival leaders engaged in sloganeering and clashes were reported at a party programme in Sangrur. A poster war targeting senior Congress functionaries also broke out in parts of the state.

Pilot will now be expected to bring the competing camps together as the Congress prepares to challenge the ruling Aam Aadmi Party in the 2027 elections. His appointment also comes ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s proposed visit to Punjab and a planned party bus yatra.

Surjewala gets Gujarat

As part of the wider organisational changes, Congress general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala has been given charge of Gujarat while continuing to oversee Karnataka. Sukhdeo Bhagat has been appointed in-charge of Chhattisgarh, Sirivella Prasad of Maharashtra and P V Mohan of Andhra Pradesh.

The party also acknowledged the contributions of outgoing in-charges Jitendra Singh, Ramesh Chennithala and Manickam Tagore, while Mukul Wasnik will continue as an AICC general secretary.

Pilot’s move to Punjab gives the former Rajasthan deputy chief minister responsibility for one of the Congress’s most politically sensitive state units. Apart from managing competing leadership claims, he will have to oversee organisational preparations and eventually the politically contentious process of candidate selection.

Warring welcomed Pilot’s appointment, saying his “energy and dynamism” would strengthen the party ahead of the Assembly elections, and thanked Baghel for guiding the state organisation. Senior Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa also welcomed Pilot, saying his leadership and experience would give the organisation new strength and direction.