Chandigarh: Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal left Chandigarh for Delhi on Monday after a day-long visit during which he met senior Punjab party leaders and delivered a firm message on discipline and preparations for the 2027 assembly elections.
According to party sources, Venugopal and Punjab Congress in-charge Sachin Pilot directed senior leaders to mobilise one lakh people for Rahul Gandhi’s November 4 rally in Sangrur. The rally will mark the launch of the party’s campaign in Punjab, with further rallies and roadshows by Rahul Gandhi and senior Congress leaders planned across different zones in the coming days.
The leaders were warned against running individual campaigns for the assembly elections. Venugopal and Pilot reportedly made it clear that all campaigning must be conducted under the party’s banner, with leaders asked to focus collectively on winning the election.
Addressing the issue of leadership ambitions, Venugopal told the gathering that someone from among the Punjab leaders could become chief minister, a minister or a board chairman, adding that neither he nor Pilot was seeking a position in the state.
Venugopal also urged senior leaders sitting on either side of the meeting to communicate with one another and work together.
Both leaders warned that indiscipline and internal sabotage would not be tolerated, regardless of the stature of those involved, party sources said.
