Chandigarh: Punjab Congress’s efforts to contain the discontent over its recent organisational appointments hit a wall on Monday when former CM Charanjit Singh Channi and former deputy CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa refrained from meeting Punjab affairs in charge Bhupesh Baghel, while a group of leaders led by them gathered separately in Mohali to again press the Congress high command to reconsider its recent organisational decisions.Channi and Randhawa, who head the party’s campaign committee and core committee, attended the Mohali meeting along with around 18 senior functionaries.Some Congress functionaries publicly suggested that Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring should consider stepping aside in the interest of the party. Patiala MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi posted on social media: “Congress workers expect their leaders to demonstrate sacrifice and selflessness in the larger interests of democracy, the Constitution, Punjab and the nation.” Former Punjab DGP Mohammed Mustafa, also suggested that Warring should voluntarily relinquish the post if it strengthens the party.Baghel said that he will be talking to all the leaders and expressed confidence that the issue will be resolved.Warring rejected suggestions of a widening rift, maintaining that the senior leadership remains united and committed to strengthening the party ahead of polls.Baghel arrived in Chandigarh around 3pm, and was received at the airport by leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, Warring and former deputy chief minister OP Soni. He held discussions at Bajwa’s residence before heading for Congress Bhawan, where he met several senior functionaries, including manifesto committee chairman Dr Amar Singh, election management and coordination committee chairman Vijay Inder Singla, former assembly speaker Rana KP Singh and other leaders.According to sources, the leaders at the Mohali meeting reiterated their dissatisfaction with the organisational appointments announced by the Congress high command, particularly the decision to retain Warring as PPCC president. Sources said some leaders felt their concerns should be raised directly with Rahul Gandhi and other seniors in Delhi rather than through Baghel. According to sources, some members of the group have already gone to Delhi to seek an appointment with Rahul.Apart from Channi and Randhawa, among those present in Mohali were Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Rana Gurjeet Singh, Pargat Singh, Razia Sultana, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Sangat Singh Gilzian, Madan Lal Jalalpur, Gurkirat Singh Kotli and Gurmeet Singh Pahra.After the meeting, Channi and Randhawa shared a group photograph on social media with the caption, ‘Unity is Strength’. Interestingly, Warring too shared photographs of the same gathering with the identical caption. Punjab Congress social media handles described the meeting as a discussion among heads of the party’s election-related committees on strengthening the organisation.Former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu termed the meeting a continuation of the Morinda discussions. Asked whether he would attend Baghel’s meeting, Ashu said he wouldn’t as he was not invited.The Mohali meeting followed Friday’s gathering at Channi’s residence in Morinda, attended by around 60 party leaders and functionaries. At that meeting, it was decided to constitute a committee, with Channi authorised to nominate three to four members, to seek an appointment with the Congress high command and present concerns over the recent organisational appointments while urging it to reconsider the decisions.Warring again played down talks of a rift, saying: “The Morinda meeting is being projected as if it were held in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Many leaders went to congratulate Channi after he was appointed chairman of the campaign committee. The Morinda meeting was meant to strengthen Congress, so was today’s meeting,” he said, adding that discussions were being held in consultation with everyone. “All leaders are concerned about Punjab. In a day or two, you will see all of them sharing the same stage,” he said.Congress MLA Pargat Singh also maintained that the meetings were intended to prepare the party’s election strategy and strengthen the organisation. Simarjit Singh Bains dismissed suggestions of factionalism, saying meetings among leaders should not be interpreted as evidence of a split. Congress MP Sher Singh Ghubaya appealed to party workers to rise above personal ambitions and work collectively for the party.When Trump & Iran Can Talk…Leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, who has largely stayed away from taking sides in the dispute, said he would work to bridge differences within the party. After meeting Baghel, Bajwa said the Congress in charge had assured him that all grievances would be addressed through dialogue.Bajwa remarked, “If Trump and Iran can come to the negotiating table, why can’t they sit together and resolve their differences?” On the organisational appointments, Bajwa said they were the prerogative of Congress high command. “I have neither the authority to change them nor to question them,” he said, adding that party colleagues from both sides were in touch with him and expressing confidence that the issues would be resolved in the coming days.Showcause Notice On JalalpurThe Punjab Congress Disciplinary Committee issued a showcause notice to former MLA Madan Lal Jalalpur over his alleged public remarks against the party leadership. The committee accused him of violating party discipline through “objectionable” statements against the Congress high command, KC Venugopal and Baghel, and directed him to submit a written explanation within three days.
