New Delhi: Former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi is unlikely to attend an important Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting in Delhi today, with sources saying he has a PhD examination at Panjab University on Thursday.
An official confirmation of his absence is still awaited.
Channi’s absence from a meeting attended by Rahul Gandhi could carry political significance, particularly as this would be the second recent occasion when he has missed an important party programme.
The previous time, when Rahul Gandhi addressed Parliament over the paper-leak issue, Channi was also absent from the House and instead attended a protest in Faridkot.
Punjab Congress leaders to attend
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Partap Singh Bajwa, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Vijay Inder Singla are expected to attend the Delhi meeting.
The meeting is likely to focus on preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections and strengthening the party organisation at the grassroots level.
Channi’s possible absence comes amid reported factional differences within the Punjab Congress.
Meanwhile, Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa wished Channi well for his upcoming PhD examination.
