Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring dismissed suggestions on Saturday that a rebellion has erupted in the party’s state unit and ruled out that he is in the race for the chief minister’s post.
He also described former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi as a respected leader.
Aim Is To See Congress Government in Punjab, Says Warring
Warring asserted that his sole aim is to see the Congress coming to power in Punjab after the 2027 Assembly polls and he has no objection if the party wants to make Channi or anyone else its chief-ministerial face or the president of the state unit.
In the coming days, the entire state will be seen “fighting the battle for Punjab” together in every town and village, he said.
“The Congress is united. Our rivals can dream on, but nothing will happen. Channi, Warring and everyone else will be seen together,” he said.
Warring’s Remark Day After Congress Leader Gather At Channi’s Residence
Warring’s remarks came a day after several incumbent and former MLAs threw their weight behind Channi to be reconsidered for the state unit chief’s post.
They had gathered at Channi’s residence in Rupnagar district on Friday in a show of strength.
An announcement to retain Warring as the Punjab Congress chief came on Wednesday, alongside the unveiling of the party’s various committees for the 2027 polls.
Jalandhar MP Channi, a Dalit who was seen as one of the main contenders for the Punjab Congress chief’s post, has been appointed as the chairperson of the campaign committee, an important position for strategising and planning the party’s poll campaign.
“There is no rebellion,” Warring said on Saturday, referring to the gathering at Channi’s residence.
“They had gone to the residence of our former chief minister and the chairperson of our campaign committee. Some people went to meet him, some to congratulate him. No one has stopped anyone from going there or coming from there. So how is this a rebellion? It would have been a rebellion had Channi or Warring said something,” he told PTI Videos.
“Channi is a respected senior leader, our brother and the campaign committee chairman. The colour of rebellion was given by our rivals, who portrayed it as a challenge to the Congress high command,” Warring said.
Pointing out that no senior leader, who was at Channi’s residence on Friday, including the former chief minister himself, had not said anything that could be perceived as a rebellion, he said if one or two individuals have said something, that is of no significance.
Referring to senior leaders, such as Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa who interacted with the media at Channi’s residence on Friday, Warring said, “They said they respect the high command, they have no conflict with the high command. So to say that this was a rebellion is not right.”
“If one or two individuals, who are not even in the party, have said something, I cannot comment on that. If something was said against me, I have no objection. But if someone says anything against the party high command or breaches his limits, then action will be taken against him,” he said.
When pointed out that according to many leaders, public sentiment favours that Channi be made the state Congress chief, Warring said, “If anyone has said so, his sentiments may be with Channi sahab. There is nothing wrong with that. Channi is our leader, he is our pride. What is our objection against him? I like him too.”
No Objection If High Command Choses Channi As CM Candidate, Says Warring
Asked who could be the party’s chief-ministerial face for the 2027 polls, Warring said it is not his prerogative, but if the high command decides on Channi, he would have no objection.
“I am in only one race and that is to bring the Congress to power (in Punjab),” he asserted.
Warring said the decision on the chief-ministerial face will be taken by Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, and whatever they decide, he will stand by it.
“I am a disciplined soldier of the Congress. I am not going to be the state party chief forever. I have no issues with anyone. Tomorrow, Channi, (Sukhjinder Singh) Randhawa or (Partap Singh) Bajwa may become (the state party chief), I have no problem,” he said.
Reacting to the attack mounted by political rivals on the Congress in the wake of certain developments in the party’s state unit, Warring said, “Does the BJP have any leader (in Punjab)? It is the Congress that prepares a nursery of leaders from the grassroots.”
He pointed out that leaders like Amarinder Singh, Sunil Jakhar, Kewal Singh Dhillon, who are now in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), all came from the Congress.
Earlier, while interacting with reporters here, Warring responded to queries on the gathering of Congress leaders at Channi’s residence on Friday.
“If some leaders gathered at his residence, there is no reason to worry. Some will gather at my house, some at Randhawa’s house and some at Channi’s house. There is no fight or factionalism,” he said.
High Command To Decide If They Will Announce CM Face: Warring
Asked if the Congress will declare its chief-ministerial face ahead of the 2027 polls, he said that is for the party high command to decide.
Replying to a reporter’s question, Warring said Gandhi and the Congress party love Channi.
“Channi does not need any authorisation, he can meet the high command anytime,” he said when it was pointed out that some leaders, who were at Channi’s residence on Friday, have said they have asked the former chief minister to seek time from the party’s central leadership to raise some of their issues.
Warring asserted that Channi is a senior leader, “our brother”.
“Bajwa and Randhawa are also our senior leaders. Our aim is the same — to bring the Congress back to power (in Punjab), to fight for our people,” he said.
On Randhawa meeting Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Friday, Warring said he had gone to raise the issue of “deteriorating” law and order in the border state.
On probable candidates for next year’s election, he said poll tickets are always given on merit, keeping in mind the winnability criteria.
Warring, however, said this time, the Congress will also give a chance to youngsters.
To another question on political rivals attacking the Congress over factionalism, Warring said the truth is that whether it is Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann or the BJP, they are scared of the grand old party.
Those who gathered at Channi’s residence on Friday included senior leaders Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, former Punjab deputy chief minister O P Soni, former ministers Bharat Bhushan Ashu and Gurpreet Singh Kangar, former MP Mohammad Sadiq, former MLAs Nazar Singh Manshahia, Gurkirat Singh Kotli, Lakhvir Singh Lakha and other leaders, such as Balkaur Singh and Parminder Pinki.