Bathinda/Muktsar: Factionalism continues to trouble Punjab Congress with posters being put up in Bathinda and Muktsar against party state in charge Bhupesh Baghel in favour of former CM Charanjit Singh Channi whose supporters have opened a front against state party chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring.Some Channi supporters raised slogans at Congress’s ‘Har Booth Congress Majboot’ campaign in Bathinda, Warring then invited one of the youths to the stage, handed him the mike, and asked him to raise slogans in favour of Channi. When the youth shouted slogans in favour of Channi, Rahul Gandhi and Congress, Warring told him, “Do you have Channi’s mobile number? Do call him and tell him that you have raised slogans at the Congress programme. Channi will surely tell you not to disturb the party event.”The youth called Channi’s phone twice but he didn’t take the call. Some party workers then gave slogans seemingly in support of Warring, and he asked the youth to get off the stage.This was the third day after Patiala and Sangrur on Aug 1 and Barnala and Mansa on Aug 2 that factionalism marred a Congress programme. Perturbed by the continuous sloganeering, Warring had himself raised slogans in favour of Channi and told them that raising slogans in favour of an ex-CM is not bad.Factionalism took another turn at Muktsar, Warring’s native district, when banners surfaced at Kotkapura Road showing Baghel in a khaki uniform with medals and the slogan: ‘Go Back Baghel’. A couple of banners against Baghel were also seen. These were removed.Later, Warring told media that he would not resign under pressure. “If the party high command takes this post from me, I will not feel angry nor will I leave the party. I will work hard for the welfare of Congress as a party member and that’s what I have been doing for the past four years as state Congress president,” he said, adding that during his tenure as PCC chief, the party won seven seats in the 2024 parliamentary elections.
