New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi returned to India on Tuesday after his foreign visit and immediately held a key meeting with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at the latter’s residence in New Delhi to discuss the ongoing leadership crisis within the Punjab Congress.
According to party sources, the meeting focused on the growing factionalism and internal discord in the Punjab unit ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled early next year. AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal was also present during the discussions.
In view of the situation, the Congress high command has summoned Punjab Congress in-charge Bhupesh Baghel to New Delhi. Baghel, who is currently in Chhattisgarh, is expected to meet Rahul Gandhi and the party leadership on Wednesday to brief them on the political developments in Punjab and discuss possible measures to resolve the crisis.
Sources said Rahul Gandhi is willing to hear the views of all Punjab leaders and is keen to defuse the internal rebellion at the earliest. The party leadership is concerned that continued infighting could weaken the Congress ahead of the Assembly elections if left unresolved.
Meanwhile, speculation has surfaced in political circles that Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring may resign following the recent controversy. However, there has been no official confirmation from the party regarding such reports.
