Bhupesh Baghel Mediates Punjab Congress Leadership Rift Over Raja Warring

All India Congress Committee General Secretary Bhupesh Baghel convened a series of meetings in Chandigarh on July 11, 2026, to mediate a leadership crisis within the Punjab Congress. The conflict emerged following a July 1 decision by the party high command to retain Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as state president while appointing former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi as chairperson of the poll campaign committee.

During a meeting at the residence of MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh, Channi and a delegation of approximately 45 to 80 leaders urged the removal of Warring. Channi accused Warring of character assassination, while MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa argued that the party does not need compromised leaders and requires a bold voice to win the 2027 Assembly elections. Warring declined to attend the meeting to avoid face-to-face confrontations, though he later dismissed the rift as short-lived.

Baghel publicly downplayed reports of factionalism and denied that any formal request to replace Warring was made, asserting that the high command's decision is final. However, he acknowledged he would convey the leaders' concerns to the central leadership. Concurrent with the meetings, Rana Gurjeet Singh alleged that the Aam Aadmi Party government conducted raids on his businesses to disrupt the gathering.

Other party members, including Pargat Singh and Parminder Singh Pinky, maintained that the party remains united and that internal grievances would be resolved privately. Baghel later reiterated from Chhattisgarh that there is no factionalism and warned that action would be taken against any members exhibiting indiscipline.