Amritsar: Newly appointed Punjab Congress president Pargat Singh and the party’s Punjab affairs in-charge Sachin Pilot on Thursday paid obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar, seeking blessings ahead of the 2027 Punjab assembly elections.
The visit was seen as an effort to project unity within the state Congress ahead of the polls. Several senior party leaders, sitting and former MLAs, former ministers and workers accompanied the two leaders.
However, former Punjab Congress chief and MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla and Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi were absent. They were in Delhi attending a protest led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Pargat Singh and Pilot were welcomed earlier in the day at Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport, where a large number of Congress workers and leaders gathered. Supporters greeted Pargat Singh with drums and slogans, while several senior leaders and former legislators arrived with their supporters.
Pargat Singh later thanked the party workers and supporters who had gathered at the Golden Temple. He had earlier said that he wanted to visit the shrine as a humble Sikh.
Pilot drove the car from the airport to the Golden Temple, with Pargat Singh travelling alongside him.
Congress MLA Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria said Pargat Singh had expressed his wish to make the visit in a humble manner, which was why supporters had gathered at the airport to welcome him.
Former MLA Raj Kumar Verka said Pargat Singh’s appointment would help unite the Congress and could lead to better results in the upcoming elections.
Former MLA Sukhwinder Singh Danny Bandala described Pargat Singh as a good person and former sportsperson, saying his experience as a team player would help him take the entire party along.
