📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Veekthedragon
Politics
Punjab Congress Rift: Channi Advises Deepender, Former Deputy CM Demands CM Face Declaration
✍️ Amar Ujala · Ludhiana
🗓 24 Aug 2026, 02:03 PM
👁 3
Internal tensions within the Punjab Congress resurfaced as party chief Harinder Singh Channi urged Deepender Singh to consider a leadership role, while former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa pressed for his official nomination as the chief ministerial candidate ahead of the 2027 elections.
Punjab's ruling Congress party is witnessing renewed internal friction as the 2027 state assembly elections approach. Party president Harinder Singh Channi publicly advised senior leader Deepender Singh to position himself for a prominent role, signaling a possible shift in the party's leadership calculus.
The counsel came amid growing speculation over the party's chief ministerial candidate. Former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, speaking at a party gathering, demanded that Deepender Singh be formally announced as the Congress's face for the upcoming polls, arguing that a clear choice would strengthen the party's electoral prospects.
Analysts note that the dispute reflects broader uncertainties within the Punjab Congress, which has struggled to present a united front since its defeat in the 2022 elections. The party's internal dynamics will likely influence its campaign strategy and voter appeal in the run‑up to the 2027 polls.
Both Channi and Randhawa emphasized the need for consensus, urging party members to avoid factionalism. The leadership tussle remains unresolved as the election calendar tightens.
The developments underscore the challenges facing the Congress in Punjab as it seeks to regain power, with the selection of a chief ministerial candidate poised to become a decisive factor.
The counsel came amid growing speculation over the party's chief ministerial candidate. Former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, speaking at a party gathering, demanded that Deepender Singh be formally announced as the Congress's face for the upcoming polls, arguing that a clear choice would strengthen the party's electoral prospects.
Analysts note that the dispute reflects broader uncertainties within the Punjab Congress, which has struggled to present a united front since its defeat in the 2022 elections. The party's internal dynamics will likely influence its campaign strategy and voter appeal in the run‑up to the 2027 polls.
Both Channi and Randhawa emphasized the need for consensus, urging party members to avoid factionalism. The leadership tussle remains unresolved as the election calendar tightens.
The developments underscore the challenges facing the Congress in Punjab as it seeks to regain power, with the selection of a chief ministerial candidate poised to become a decisive factor.