Chandigarh, June 2
The Congress party has ruled out any change in leadership in Punjab, confirming that Amarinder Singh Raja Warring will continue as the state unit president. Punjab Congress in-charge Bhupesh Baghel said in New Delhi on Tuesday that the party would contest the next assembly elections under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and party president Mallikarjun Kharge.
After meeting Rahul Gandhi and Kharge, Baghel said there was complete unity within the Punjab unit and no discussion on replacing the state leadership.
“There is no question of a leadership change. The party is united and focused on the real issues in Punjab,” he said, adding that corruption and gang-related crime would remain key concerns for the party.
Speculation over a possible leadership change had intensified after the municipal elections held on 29 May.
In those polls, the Congress won 397 of 1,977 wards across Punjab. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) emerged as the largest party with 958 wards, followed by the Shiromani Akali Dal with 191, the Bharatiya Janata Party with 172, independents with 251, and the Bahujan Samaj Party with seven.
Party insiders said concerns over leadership were raised by former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa during discussions with the central leadership.
However, senior Congress leaders have since publicly dismissed any immediate move to replace Warring, who is considered close to Rahul Gandhi.
