Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Punjab Congress has plunged into an open power struggle after former Chief Minister and Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi boycotted a meeting convened by the party's Punjab in-charge, Bhupesh Baghel.
Instead of attending the official meeting, Channi held a separate gathering with his loyal MPs, MLAs, and former legislators in Mohali before leaving for Delhi, where he is expected to meet the Congress high command.
In a further sign of the widening rift, Channi's supporters reportedly did not receive Baghel upon his arrival. Following the boycott, Baghel visited the residence of Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, who has largely remained silent amid the ongoing leadership tussle.
Channi's camp has claimed that he has secured the support of one Member of Parliament, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, along with six MLAs. Newly appointed Working President Sangat Singh Gilzian has also reportedly joined Channi's faction. On the other hand, Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring has publicly received the backing of only one MP, Dr. Amar Singh, while no MLA has openly declared support for him.
Before Baghel's arrival, Channi chaired a strategy meeting with his supporters in Mohali, where the decision to boycott the Punjab in-charge's meeting was reportedly taken. Channi later posted on social media that the meeting was a continuation of the earlier gathering held in Morinda.
The Congress high command has deputed Bhupesh Baghel to Punjab for a five-day visit in an attempt to resolve the escalating factionalism. During his stay in Chandigarh, Baghel is expected to hold separate meetings with both rival camps in a bid to restore unity within the party ahead of the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections.
