After the failure in first Haryana and then Delhi assembly elections, Punjab Congress has started making strategy for the assembly elections to be held after two years i.e. in 2027. For Mission-27, a meeting of Punjab Congress leaders will be held today under the leadership of the party’s new in-charge and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.
At the same time, the party’s national president Kharge will also be present. In this meeting, feedback will be taken on the situation of the state and a strategy will be prepared to put a break on the factionalism going on within the party. A few days ago, the in-charge himself had to give clarification on the issue of factionalism. Apart from this, issues like changing the party chief will also be discussed.
Lok Sabha election results raised hopes
The state of Punjab is very important for the Congress. Because the party has a strong base here. Even though the party was out of power in the state in 2022. But the results of the Lok Sabha elections held in 2024 have infused new enthusiasm in the party. Congress won 7 out of 13 seats in the state. While the Aam Aadmi Party, which is in power in the state, got three seats.
At the same time, Akali Dal got one seat, independents got two seats. BJP could not even open its account. However, BJP definitely reached the third position in terms of vote percentage. Whereas in the neighboring state Haryana, Congress got five seats and BJP got five seats.
Now workers are asking questions on factionalism
Factionalism is not a new issue in Punjab Congress. But when the workers themselves start asking this question to the party leaders, then this thing becomes even more important. Actually, the ‘Block will be connected, Congress will win’ campaign has been started by Congress these days. In Derabassi, a worker raised the issue of factionalism in the presence of senior leaders.
On this, State Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Vading said that factions have always been formed and will continue to be formed in future too. But this factionalism and infighting had reduced the seats of Congress from 58 to 18 in the last election. He said that Punjab Congress is the only state unit where there is no difference of opinion between the state president and the CLP leader.
In-charge changed as soon as Delhi elections were lost
In January 2024, Punjab Congress appointed Delhi leader Devendra Yadav as the in-charge of Punjab. Even though the party has performed well in the Lok Sabha elections. But he also failed to bring together the senior leaders of the party. During his tenure, many big leaders including Navjot Singh Sidhu were not seen together in the party office or on stage.
While Devendra Yadav himself lost the election in Delhi elections. Soon after this, the in-charge of Punjab was changed. At the same time, this time the command has been handed over to senior party leader Bhupesh Baghel. He took charge on 24 February by paying obeisance at all religious places including the Golden Temple in Amritsar. After this, he held a meeting with party leaders in Chandigarh on 25 February. After this, the meeting is going to be held today.
Congress appeared united in ED action
Although there is factionalism within the Congress, but after the action of the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the party appeared united on social media. When the ED raided Bhupesh Baghel’s house, all the Congress leaders issued statements in his support.
Senior leader Shamsher Singh Dulo also released a video condemning the action. Apart from this, when the ED seized the property of Sukhpal Singh Khaira in a drug smuggling case in Chandigarh, the Congress also appeared united. Earlier, Bhupesh Baghel wrote on social media that the Punjab Congress is completely united and its unity will set an example for other states.
