Ex-minister, former hockey captain Pragat Singh named new Punjab PCC chief

New Delhi: The Congress leadership on Friday appointed Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pragat Singh, better known as the former captain of the Indian hockey team, as the new president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee ahead of elections.

Singh, who was minister in the shortlived Channi-led previous Congress government, succeeded Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, who was made to step down by the leadership amid rebellion against him.

Also Read: Warring quits as AICC seeks truce in Punjab unit


Singh emerged as a dark horse by edging out Vijay Inder Singla, who had been a front-runner for the leadership mantle, a post for which former CM CS Channi too was an aspirant. It is learnt the leadership decided to play safe by making another leader belonging to the influential Jat Sikh community succeed Warring than doing a gambit with a Hindu (Singla) or Dalit Sikh (Channi) PCC head. A former Akali Dal leader, Singh is a close friend of former PCC chief Navjot Singh Sidhu and both had formed an outfit 'Aawaaz-e-Punjab' before they joined Congress some years ago.

While Congress central leadership appears to be thinking that Singh has remained more or less neutral during the infighting in Congress and can gain support of the leaders, party circles are closely watching whether Singh will demonstrate leadership mettle in leading the party and rallying it for electoral fight and also how entrenched leaders like Channi, SS Randhawa, PS Bajwa, Singla and Warring will deal with the new PCC president.

Earlier in the day, Warring met Rahul Gandhi here and 'formally' submitted his resignation, even though party president Mallikarjun Kharge is technically the appointing and removing authority. Warring said he owed his rise to Gandhi and no one else and said that if the leadership thinks he is worthy of any party responsibility he would discharge it.

"Reaching the top (PCC president) is an achievement, but nobody can remain at the top forever," said Warring after rebellion forced his resignation.