3 weeks ago
Baghel's Punjab tour to bolster Congress unravels into factional clashes
The Congress party is one of the big political groups in India.
Some leaders went to Punjab, a state in India, to visit lots of towns and make their party stronger.
But while they were there, two groups of party members kept arguing about who should be the leader.
One group wanted a man named Charanjit Singh Channi to be in charge.
The other group supported the current leader, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring.
People shouted angry slogans, and in one town, Ludhiana, the arguing even turned into a small fight.
Police had to step in at another town, Malerkotla.
The main leader of the visit, Bhupesh Baghel, said that misbehaving members could be kicked out of the party.
Later, most of the party's elected members wrote a letter asking top leaders to meet them and fix the problem.
In the end, the trip that was supposed to make the party stronger showed everyone that the party is still fighting with itself.
AICC in-charge Bhupesh Baghel's nine-day 'Har booth, Congress Mazboot' tour of around 18 Punjab districts (July 31-August 8) erupted into public clashes between the Warring and Channi factions.
Channi backers raised 'Channi lao, Punjab bachao' slogans in Patiala and Sangrur, while counter-slogans in Amritsar urged 'Channi bhagao, Congress bachao'.
Ludhiana was the biggest flashpoint, where supporters of former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu clashed physically with rivals, chanted 'Baghel go back' and wore T-shirts comparing Baghel with General Dyer.
On August 7, 15 of the party's 16 MLAs - one is suspended and has aligned with the BJP - sought appointments with K C Venugopal and Rahul Gandhi over 'pressing' issues.
Baghel's earlier five-day Chandigarh visit in July also failed to resolve the feud; a dissident meeting at MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh's residence drew around 80 leaders.
- Who
- Bhupesh Baghel, AICC general secretary in-charge for Punjab; state Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring; former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi; former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa; and rival Punjab Congress factions.
- What
- A nine-day organisational tour meant to strengthen Congress in weak booths instead erupted into public factional clashes over party leadership.
- Where
- Around 18 districts of Punjab, largely in the Malwa belt - including Ludhiana, Patiala, Sangrur, Amritsar, Malerkotla and Khanna - plus Chandigarh.
- When
- July 31 to August 8 (nine-day tour); an earlier Chandigarh visit ran July 6-11 and a report to the high command was filed July 15.
- Why
- Channi's supporters want Warring replaced as state chief and Channi projected as the CM face for the 2027 Assembly polls, while the high command has kept the current setup for now; Baghel also cited strong public sentiment against the AAP government.
Warring camp and high command
Channi faction
Leadership of Punjab Congress
Warring camp and high command
Keep Amrinder Singh Raja Warring as state president; Baghel told the high command there was no immediate need to change the setup, saying such moves are not a 'game of puppets' and tickets should go to winnable candidates.
Channi faction
Replace Warring, give Charanjit Singh Channi a bigger organisational role and project him as the CM face for the 2027 Assembly polls; around 80 dissident leaders gathered to press this demand.
Protests during the tour
Warring camp and high command
Baghel and Warring condemned the disruptions as indiscipline - Baghel warned of disciplinary action including expulsion, and Warring called the protesters 'RSS agents' and 'sycophants'.
Channi faction
Supporters see their slogans, walkouts and T-shirts as legitimate expressions of grassroots backing for Channi and frustration that the leadership issue remains unaddressed.
High command's response
Warring camp and high command
After consulting around 92 leaders, Baghel concluded the existing arrangement need not change immediately and publicly struck an upbeat note about worker enthusiasm and anti-AAP sentiment.
Channi faction
Dissidents say the scale of opposition - disruption across Patiala, Sangrur, Ludhiana, Malerkotla, Khanna and Moga, plus a letter from 15 of 16 MLAs - shows the high command's inaction is feeding the crisis.
Key facts
- Tour name
- Har booth, Congress Mazboot
- Tour dates
- July 31 to August 8 (nine days)
- Districts covered
- Around 18, largely in the Malwa belt
- Biggest flashpoint
- Ludhiana
- Leadership setup
- Warring as Punjab president; Channi as campaign committee chairman
- High-command report
- Submitted July 15 to Venugopal after consultations with around 92 leaders
- MLAs seeking meetings
- 15 of 16, letter sent August 7
- Baghel's claim
- Strong public sentiment against the AAP government
Quotes
AICC general secretary in-charge for Punjab
Bhupesh Baghel
“"no immediate need to change the existing leadership arrangement"”
indianexpress.com
“"no resentment" and "all is well"”
indianexpress.com
Sources
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