The ongoing friction between two factions of the Punjab Congress came to the fore on Saturday during the annual political conference at Isru village, with former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and senior leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa sharing the stage, while Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring remained absent.
Punjab Congress factionalism visible at Isru conference
The event witnessed slogans of "Channi-Channi" in support of the former Chief Minister. Channi remained the centre of attraction at the conference, while Warring's absence highlighted the continuing factionalism and power tussle within the Punjab Congress.
According to The Tribune, Warring's photograph was also "missing" from the promotional flex boards and posters put up for the annual political conference.
Channi addresses gathering at political conference
Addressing the gathering, Channi said the Congress was preparing for the upcoming elections. The former Chief Minister's presence dominated the event, with supporters rallying behind him through chants and slogans.
The absence of the Punjab Congress chief from the event, combined with the missing photograph on promotional material, signals the depth of the internal divisions within the party's state unit.
"Channi-Channi" — Slogans raised by supporters at the Isru conference in support of former CM Charanjit Singh Channi
Warring's absence highlights internal party tensions
The event at Isru village has brought the internal leadership struggle within Punjab Congress into sharp focus. While Channi and Randhawa shared the stage, the party president's decision to skip the conference raises questions about unity within the state unit.
According to The Tribune on X, the report on the event was filed by Manav Mander, confirming the significance of the developments at the Isru conference.
Our Take: Punjab Congress needs to address internal divisions
To put it plainly, this event shows that Punjab Congress has a serious internal problem. When the party president skips a major political conference and his photo is missing from the banners, it is not a small matter. It sends a clear signal to workers and voters that the party is not united.
The sight of Channi and Randhawa sharing the stage while Warring stayed away will only fuel more speculation about the leadership tussle. In our view, the high command needs to step in and resolve these differences quickly. If the party goes into elections with this kind of visible factionalism, it will struggle to present a strong front against its opponents.
The voters of Punjab will be watching closely. A divided party cannot offer stable leadership, and that is exactly the message this Isru conference has unintentionally sent out.