Chandigarh, 11 July (H.S.): The ongoing turmoil within the Punjab Congress intensified on Saturday after Punjab Congress in-charge Bhupesh Baghel held a meeting with leaders close to former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi before returning to Delhi. Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring was not present at the meeting.

The meeting was held at the residence of party MLA Rana Gurjit Singh in Chandigarh and continued for nearly two hours. According to sources, the party high command had asked Channi to meet Baghel along with two or three leaders, but around 80 leaders from the Channi camp reportedly reached the venue to show their strength and unity.

Before the meeting, leaders of the Channi camp demanded that Charanjit Singh Channi be projected as the chief ministerial face for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. The group reportedly said that if Channi was not to be made state president, he should at least be declared the party’s chief ministerial candidate so that the Congress could seek votes in his name across Punjab.

The Congress high command has already indicated that Amrinder Singh Raja Warring will not be removed from the post of state president. As per the condition laid down by the Channi camp, Warring was not invited to the meeting.

After the meeting, Bhupesh Baghel said he would submit a report to the party high command and the final decision would be taken by the leadership. He said he had been in Chandigarh for the past five days and had met several party leaders.

Baghel said Rana Gurjit Singh had invited him for the meeting and the leaders shared their views in a detailed discussion. He added that no one had any objection to the decision of the party high command. He also said that winnable candidates would definitely be given tickets and no leader should feel that they did not have support in the party.

Baghel also sent a clear message to the Channi camp, saying that strict action could be taken if any leader crossed the limits of party discipline.

Meanwhile, Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said the general secretary in-charge acts as a mediator and it is not necessary for the state president to be present everywhere. He said some discussions are meant to be held separately and claimed that the Congress remained united.

Hindusthan Samachar / GURSHARAN SINGH