Speculation regarding organizational changes within the state Congress has intensified following the appointment of Sachin Pilot to replace Bhupesh Baghel as the party’s Punjab in-charge. These rumors gained further momentum on Monday as State Congress President Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, former Chief Minister and MP Charanjit Singh Channi, and Manifesto Committee Chairman Dr. Amar Singh arrived in Delhi.
A crucial meeting of Congress MPs is scheduled in Delhi for Monday. Additionally, Punjab leaders may meet with senior party functionaries. Discussions regarding the political situation in Punjab and preparations for the upcoming assembly elections are likely to take place with General Secretary (Organization) K.C. Venugopal. Rahul Gandhi is also expected to meet with Punjab leaders in the coming days. The party high command had removed Bhupesh Baghel from the post of Punjab in-charge on September 5 and entrusted the new responsibility to Sachin Pilot. Baghel has now been appointed as the in-charge for Assam. This change comes at a time when a faction within the Punjab Congress has been consistently questioning the leadership of State President Raja Warring.
**Leaders Welcome Pilot**
However, positive signals have emerged from both factions of the Congress following Pilot’s appointment. Charanjit Singh Channi and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa have congratulated Pilot and assured him of their cooperation, while Raja Warring has also welcomed the new in-charge. These developments suggest that the high command is currently attempting to move forward by keeping all leaders united. **Reshuffle in Election Committees Likely**
Following Baghel’s departure, changes are also anticipated in the state Congress’s election committees. A reshuffle is particularly likely in committees that play a pivotal role in formulating strategies for the upcoming assembly elections. The party’s biggest challenge lies in ending factionalism and bringing leaders and workers onto a common platform; Pilot has been entrusted with this significant responsibility precisely for this purpose. The Punjab Congress has planned a protest in Chandigarh on September 8 regarding issues such as government employees’ Dearness Allowance (DA) and the Old Pension Scheme. While Baghel was originally expected to participate, the likelihood of Pilot joining the protest is now considered low following the change in the party’s state in-charge. However, Pilot is likely to visit Punjab ahead of Rahul Gandhi’s proposed visit to the state after September 15.
In this context, Pilot’s potential visit to Punjab and Rahul Gandhi’s schedule are likely to be discussed during the meetings in Delhi. Uniting the organization and accelerating election preparations for the Congress in Punjab will serve as Pilot’s first major test.
