Former Punjab CM Channi's supporters gather at his residence, demand he be made state Congress chief

Chandigarh: Former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi's supporters gathered at his residence in Punjab's Morinda on Friday, with many former MLAs demanding that he be made the state unit chief.

The development comes after the party's central leadership decided to retain Amrinder Singh Raja Warring as the state unit chief. The announcement to retain Warring came on Wednesday, alongside the unveiling of the party's various committees for the 2027 Assembly polls.

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Before the supporters started to gather at Channi's Morinda residence, some former party MLAs, who reached Channi's residence, told reporters that if the Congress has to come to power in Punjab in the next year's election, the former chief minister should be made the president of the state unit.

Channi is said to be miffed at not being appointed to the post. He is learnt to have not even made a customary call to thank the party leadership following the new announcements.

Channi's supporters have expressed disappointment over not being given the post for which the former Punjab chief minister had been lobbying hard.

Among those who reached Channi's residence included former deputy chief minister O P Soni, former ministers Bharat Bhushan Ashu and Gurpreet Singh Kangar, former MP Mohd Sadiq, sitting MLA Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, ex-MLAs Nazar Singh Manshahia, Gurkirat Singh Kotli, Lakhvir Singh Lakha, Darshan Singh Brar and Tarsem Singh.

Before the meeting, several supporters of Channi, including some former MLAs, threw weight behind him demanding that party should hand over reins of Punjab Congress to the ex-CM.

Ex-MLA Darshan Singh Brar said, "If Channi is not made the state president, the Congress cannot form its government in Punjab. Under Warring's leadership, the Congress cannot come to power".

Gurpreet Kangar said, "We have to go to people to seek votes and people want Channi as the state chief."

Amid talks of a change in the leadership of its Punjab unit, the Congress decided to retain Amrinder Singh Raja Warring as the state unit president.

Jalandhar MP Channi, a Dalit, who was seen as one of the main contenders for the post of Punjab Congress chief, has been appointed chairperson of the campaign committee, an important position for strategising and planning the party's poll campaign.

The party also did not make any change in the position of the leader of opposition in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, which is currently held by Partap Singh Bajwa.

Gurdaspur MP and former deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa has been appointed chairperson of the core committee.

In a bid to check factionalism, the party accommodated several party leaders in different committees for the assembly polls due next year in the state.

Channi and Randhawa were seen as contenders for the state unit president.