5 days ago
Channi Camp Pushes Him as Punjab Congress CM Face
Charanjit Singh Channi’s supporters want him to be Congress’s main candidate for chief minister in Punjab.
They made this demand at a large party gathering in Baba Bakala.
Some senior Congress leaders attended the event.
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and Partap Singh Bajwa did not attend, even though they were invited.
This showed that different groups in the party are still divided.
Channi’s supporters have also held other events without Warring.
The Congress high command kept Warring as state president, but that did not end the disagreement.
Channi was given other party responsibilities instead.
The party must try to settle the leadership dispute before the 2027 election campaign becomes more intense.
Charanjit Singh Channi’s supporters said they would project him as Congress’s chief ministerial face without waiting for the party high command.
The declaration came at a Rakhar Punnya rally in Baba Bakala attended by several senior Congress leaders.
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and Partap Singh Bajwa were invited but did not attend.
The Channi camp has held separate rallies and opposed Warring’s continuation as state Congress president.
The dispute has intensified ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly election, with Congress factional differences still unresolved.
- Who
- Charanjit Singh Channi, his supporters, Punjab Congress leaders, and the Congress high command.
- What
- Channi’s supporters publicly said they would project him as the party’s chief ministerial face in Punjab.
- Where
- At a Congress supporters’ rally in Baba Bakala, Punjab, with related factional activity also reported in Ludhiana and Delhi.
- When
- The declaration was made at a Rakhar Punnya gathering on August 28, 2026; the dispute is unfolding ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly election.
- Why
- Channi’s camp opposes Amarinder Singh Raja Warring’s continuation as Punjab Congress president and wants a stronger role in deciding the party’s leadership and election strategy.
Channi Camp
Punjab Congress Leadership
Chief ministerial face
Channi Camp
Channi’s supporters said they would project him as Congress’s chief ministerial face without waiting for Delhi to decide.
Punjab Congress Leadership
The Congress high command has not been reported as formally naming Channi the party’s chief ministerial face.
State party leadership
Channi Camp
Channi and his supporters opposed Amarinder Singh Raja Warring’s continuation as Punjab Congress president.
Punjab Congress Leadership
The central leadership retained Warring after discussions with senior Punjab leaders.
Factional unity
Channi Camp
The Channi camp has organised rallies without Warring and has maintained its opposition to his leadership.
Punjab Congress Leadership
Congress leaders have attempted to manage the dispute, including sending Bhupesh Baghel to Punjab to work on factional differences.
Key facts
- Event
- Congress supporters’ rally during the Rakhar Punnya gathering
- Location
- Baba Bakala, Punjab
- Claim
- Supporters said they would project Charanjit Singh Channi as the chief ministerial face
- Absent leaders
- Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and Partap Singh Bajwa
- Party decision
- The Congress high command retained Warring as Punjab Congress president
- Channi’s assignment
- Channi was given charge of the campaign committee along with other organisational responsibilities
- Election context
- Punjab Assembly election scheduled for 2027
Quotes
Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa
Senior Congress leader who addressed supporters at the Baba Bakala rally
“They did not come.”
thestatesman.com









