Chandigarh: With factionalism continuing to dog the Punjab Congress ahead of the 2027 assembly elections, AICC Punjab affairs in-charge Bhupesh Baghel will begin a 10-day tour of the state from July 30 to review organisational preparedness, strengthen the party at the grassroots and gauge workers’ feedback.Baghel is expected to use the tour to bridge differences between Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and the faction led by former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, which includes former deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and MLAs Pargat Singh and Rana Gurjeet Singh.He will meet district Congress presidents, office-bearers and workers in 17 districts — Fatehgarh Sahib, Mohali, Patiala, Sangrur, Barnala, Mansa, Bathinda, Muktsar, Fazilka, Ferozepur, Moga, Faridkot, Ludhiana, Malerkotla, Khanna, Nawanshahr and Ropar. Except Ropar, which is in the Puadh region, and Nawanshahr, which falls in Doaba, all the districts are in Malwa.The discussions will focus on strengthening the organisation from the booth to the district level, expanding the party structure, improving public outreach and preparing for the 2027 assembly polls. Baghel will also seek political and organisational feedback to assess the party’s position on the ground.The tour follows Baghel’s six-day Punjab visit earlier this month, during which leaders from the Channi camp met him only on the final day after conveying their own conditions. With several district Congress presidents considered close to Channi, it remains unclear whether they will attend the upcoming meetings. Sources in the Channi camp said no decision has yet been taken on whether its leaders will participate or stay away.The outreach also comes a week after Baghel chaired a meeting at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi with general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal and Punjab leaders. During the meeting, election strategist Sunil Kanugolu presented a ground assessment, stressing the need to strengthen the organisation, improve electoral preparedness and address factionalism. He also proposed joint tours by senior Punjab Congress leaders to project unity.However, party sources said leadership differences remained unresolved, with the Channi camp continuing to press for changes in the state leadership.Not showing up togetherThe divide has also been visible in recent protests. During the sanitation workers’ agitation in Barnala, Channi, leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, Randhawa and Rana Gurjeet Singh visited the protesters together, while Warring reached separately with local leaders. Similarly, Warring joined Congress MPs protesting outside Parliament over the alleged examination paper leaks, while Channi and Randhawa stayed away. On Wednesday, Channi and other Congress leaders separately staged a protest at Baba Farid University of Health Sciences in Faridkot over alleged irregularities in the Pharmacy Officer Recruitment Examination.
