Suspended Congress leader Madan Lal Jalalpur has launched a sharp attack on Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, saying the state leader is "incapable" and that former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi is far better suited to lead the party in Punjab.
Jalalpur, a former MLA who was suspended for anti-party activities, did not hold back in his criticism. He accused Warring of being the "actual conspirator" behind his suspension and questioned the state chief's leadership abilities.
Jalalpur backs Channi for Punjab Congress president post
Speaking to The Tribune, Jalalpur made his position clear. He called Channi a "common people's man" and said the former CM is more suitable for the Congress president's post in the state.
"Warring is an incapable leader and Channi is far more suitable for the Congress president's post," Jalalpur said, according to the report.
The remarks came just two days after the Congress party suspended Jalalpur for anti-party activities. The suspension appears to have triggered a fresh round of infighting within the Punjab Congress unit.
Channi's support for suspended leader
Jalalpur's attack on Warring comes with the backing of Channi. The former chief minister had assured Jalalpur that he would raise the matter with the party's high command.
According to NDTV, Channi visited the suspended leader, signaling a rift with the Punjab Congress chief. The visit was widely seen as a message to Warring.
The tensions have also played out publicly. As The Week reported, slogans in support of Channi were raised during party programmes, even in the presence of senior leaders.
Leadership battle within Punjab Congress
The clash between Channi and Warring supporters is now out in the open. The rivalry has become a central issue for the Punjab Congress unit, which is already facing challenges ahead of upcoming elections.
According to News18, the rift is deepening as Channi backs the suspended ex-MLA while Warring defends the suspension. Factionalism within the party is growing as leaders take sides.
The Hindu has explained why this Channi-Raja Warring leadership battle matters for the party's future in the state.
"Warring is an incapable leader and Channi is far more suitable for the Congress president's post." — Madan Lal Jalalpur, via The Tribune
Our Take: Internal conflict weakens Punjab Congress
To put it plainly, this public fight is bad news for the Congress party in Punjab. When senior leaders spend more time attacking each other than the opposition, voters notice.
Jalalpur's suspension and his response show a party that is deeply divided. Whether Channi is indeed better suited to lead is a question for the party high command to answer. But the way this dispute is playing out in public does no favours to anyone involved.
The party needs to resolve this leadership question quickly. If it does not, the internal conflict will only get worse, and the Congress will struggle to present a united front when it matters most.
