Top Congress leaders discuss Punjab factionalism and possible Himachal Pradesh cabinet reshuffle

Sources said that AICC General Secretary in-charge of Punjab Bhupesh Baghel held a series of meetings with the leaders of Punjab on Thursday, September 3, 2026. File | Photo credit: PTI

The Congress top brass, including Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and General Secretary (Organization) KC Venugopal, are said to have discussed the leadership tussle within the party in Punjab at a meeting at the official residence of party president Mallikarjun Kharge.

In a separate meeting, the top officials also met Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief to discuss a possible cabinet reshuffle in the state.

There was no official word on the details of the meeting on Punjab, but it comes ahead of Mr Gandhi’s proposed political yatra in the state, which is due to go to polls early next year.

The yatra dates are likely to be finalized once the Congress resolves intense factionalism in the Punjab unit, which is led by former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, a prominent Dalit leader.

Unhappy leaders

Mr Channi and his supporters, upset that they were not facing the PCC or the Chief Minister ahead of the Punjab polls, openly expressed their displeasure that the Scheduled Castes, who form the largest share of the Punjab electorate, were not adequately represented.

However, the party’s aggressive stance on the shuddhikaran episode in BJP-ruled Uttarakhand, with Mr Gandhi describing it as a “practice of untouchability”, may help calm Mr Channi. The party is likely to invite him to lead the election campaign efforts in the state, sources said.

In a party rejig in July, the high command appointed Mr Channi as the election committee chairman, while Amrinder Singh Raja Warring continued as the PCC chief. This triggered open factionalism, with senior Jat Sikh leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who is the AICC in-charge of Rajasthan, openly rebelling against the High Command’s decision.

Keeping the peace

Sources said AICC general secretary in charge of Punjab Bhupesh Baghel held a series of meetings with Punjab leaders, including Mr Randhawa, Mr Warring and Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa, on Thursday (September 3, 2026).

Mr. Venugopal separately met Chandigarh leaders, including Lok Sabha member Manish Tewari and former Union minister Pawan Bansal, to discuss the Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan, a program to strengthen the organization at the grassroots level.

Published – 03 Sep 2026 22:48 IST