Punjab Congress crisis: Channi supporters demand leadership change, oppose Warring

The AICC's decision to stick to the status quo in the leadership of the poll-bound Punjab unit is clearly snowballing into an internal crisis. Former CM Charanjit Singh Channi, whom the AICC has confined to the post of chairman of party's campaign committee, although he aimed to lead the state party, is emerging as the rallying point for many state leaders opposed to the continuation of Rahul Gandhi's pick, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, as the PCC president.

The fact that Channi belongs to the influential Dalit community while Warring is from the Jat Sikh community has added a sensitive political tone to the tussle. Sources said even some senior Jat Sikh Congress leaders are not backing Warring, whose style of functioning and organisational handling have come under internal criticism.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa meeting home minister Amit Shah in Delhi triggered speculations but he scotched rumours by stating he would remain committed to his party. Supporters of Channi, including some Congress MLAs, former ministers and party office-bearers, held a meeting at his residence in Morinda, Punjab, on Friday and formed a committee to convey their concerns to the high command and seek a resolution, one way or the other, within seven days. They also vowed to abide by whatever final decision Channi takes on the matter. "We urge the high command to reconsider and think about the voice of people of Punjab. Even you know what the people of Punjab want. If the Congress has to form the government here, a popular leader should be projected. Charanjit Singh Channi should be pushed forward," former Congress minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar told the media after the meeting.


Another senior Congress leader, Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa, said, "We are not fighting against the high command. But there are a few issues that we want to place before the leadership. We will ask Channi to seek an appointment with the high command and request them to rethink a few things which would benefit the entire Congress party."