Chandigarh: The Congress is likely to make a major organisational change in Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, with state unit chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring expected to be replaced.
As part of the ongoing exercise, Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and former Punjab Chief Minister and Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi were called to New Delhi on Thursday. Party General Secretary K.C. Venugopal is holding separate one-on-one meetings with the leaders.
The development comes days after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met five senior Punjab leaders following the submission of a report by three party observers. According to party sources, Gandhi has entrusted Venugopal with taking the final call on the Punjab Congress leadership.
Sources said three leaders are currently in contention for the post of Punjab Congress president—Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Charanjit Singh Channi and former MP Vijay Inder Singla.
Randhawa, who belongs to the Jat Sikh community, is being considered as the party weighs community representation. The Punjab BJP is headed by Jat Sikh leader Sunil Jakhar’s successor Kewal Singh Dhillon, while the Shiromani Akali Dal is led by Sukhbir Singh Badal. Although AAP’s state president Aman Arora is a Hindu leader, the party’s overall leadership in Punjab rests with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who also belongs to the Jat Sikh community.
Channi, on the other hand, represents the Dalit community and served as Punjab Chief Minister for nearly 100 days in 2021. He recently raised concerns over the lack of Dalit representation in key positions within the Congress, alleging that major organisational posts have largely remained with leaders from the Jat Sikh community.
Former Sangrur MP Vijay Inder Singla is also being viewed as a contender. Considered close to Rahul Gandhi, Singla could emerge as a consensus choice if the party seeks to balance Jat Sikh and Hindu representation. The Congress already has Jat Sikh leader Partap Singh Bajwa serving as the Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly.
Party sources said the Congress high command is unlikely to sideline Raja Warring completely, considering the Assembly elections are approaching. He may be accommodated as chairman of the party’s campaign committee or assigned another key organisational responsibility. Other leaders who miss out on the state president’s post are also expected to be given important roles within the party.
