Chandigarh | Updated: July 10, 2026
Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Thursday dismissed speculation of a leadership rift in the state unit and said senior party leaders would soon be seen together on one platform.
His remarks came ahead of a scheduled meeting between AICC general secretary in-charge Bhupesh Baghel and senior Congress leaders considered close to former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi.
The meeting is expected to take place on Saturday.
Warring said Baghel had informed him that a separate meeting had been scheduled with the leaders.
“Baghel will speak to them separately,” Warring said.
Sources said Channi, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, and Rana Gurjit Singh could be among the leaders who may meet Baghel.
When asked whether the Channi camp had insisted that Warring should not attend the meeting, the Punjab Congress chief said he was not aware of any such condition.
Asked when Channi, who is also the Jalandhar MP and chairman of the Punjab Congress campaign committee, would be seen with him, Warring said, “In a day or two, you will see us all together.”
He said he had no grudge against any leader and claimed that the Congress was united in Punjab.
Warring also rejected claims that the Channi camp had refused to accept his leadership as state party president.
He challenged reporters to name any senior leader who had publicly said they were unwilling to accept him.
He named Channi, Sukhjinder Randhawa, Aruna Chaudhary, and Partap Singh Bajwa, saying none of them had made such a statement.
The latest development comes amid continuing discussions within the Punjab Congress after the party high command decided to retain Warring as state unit president and appointed Channi as chairman of the campaign committee.
Baghel, who is on a Punjab visit to prepare the party for the 2027 Assembly elections, has extended his stay by three days.
Since arriving in Chandigarh on Monday, Baghel has held a series of meetings with party leaders and office-bearers.
Channi and leaders considered close to him, including Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Rana Gurjit Singh, are yet to meet Baghel.
Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh had earlier said that they would meet Baghel and present their views.
Responding to Randhawa’s reported remarks, Warring said Randhawa was like his elder brother and a senior leader.
He said leaders such as Randhawa and Channi were his elders, adding that he did not believe Randhawa was upset with him but would speak to him.
Warring addressed the media along with senior Congress leader Supriya Shrinate.
When asked about factionalism in Punjab Congress ahead of the Assembly polls, Shrinate said she was confident that the Congress would form the next government in Punjab.
She said politics involved ambition and that differences of opinion were natural in a democratic party.
Shrinate said the Congress had emerged from the freedom movement, and occasional differences did not mean division, as leaders ultimately came together.
She said every state unit of the Congress had capable leaders with their own followings.
“What you call factionalism, I call that leadership,” she said.
Shrinate added that the Congress was not a party that runs according to one person’s command.
She said leaders may have differences, but they also fight together.
Targeting the Aam Aadmi Party, she said Punjab’s AAP government was being run by leaders sitting in Delhi, while the Congress did not follow such a culture.
On Wednesday, Baghel had ruled out any change in the Punjab Congress leadership, saying the high command’s decision was final.
He said the Congress encouraged debate and discussion, unlike parties where communication was one-way.
The leadership debate started after the Congress announced on July 1 that Warring would continue as Punjab Congress president and Channi would head the campaign committee.
Several senior leaders had later met in Mohali in Channi’s presence, amid demands by some incumbent and former MLAs to reconsider him for the state unit chief’s post.
The party leadership is now trying to project unity as it prepares for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
