Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Former Punjab Chief Minister and Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi has softened his stand after the Congress high command distanced itself from his demands over the Punjab unit.
Leaders seen as part of the Channi camp, including Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Kapurthala MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh, and Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh, have also toned down their statements.
Two leaders from the Channi camp, including MP Randhawa, are now set to meet AICC Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel to present their views. The leaders have maintained that they have no differences with the party leadership and are committed to resolving the issue internally.
Earlier, Channi had sought appointments with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, senior leaders Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi, or members of their teams in New Delhi, but reportedly did not receive one. Following this, the Channi camp held its third strategy meeting at the residence of MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh in Chandigarh, where it was decided to meet Baghel instead.
Speaking to the media, MP Randhawa said the Punjab Congress remains united and that all issues would be resolved collectively. Rana Gurjeet Singh asserted that "all is well" within the party, while Pargat Singh dismissed reports of any deadlock in the Punjab Congress.
Baghel, who is concluding his five-day visit to Punjab, has repeatedly made it clear that the Congress high command's decision regarding the state unit will not be changed. He also dismissed the Channi camp's insistence, remarking that the matter was "not a child's play," and reiterated that Channi and his supporters would have to accept the party leadership's decision.
