CHANDIGARH, September 20: Punjab Congress is witnessing intense lobbying as the party moves to finalize 29 district president posts, days after the high command urged state leaders to set aside differences. The All-India Congress Committee (AICC) has appointed 29 observers, including MPs, former Union ministers, and ex-state unit chiefs, to gather feedback from the party rank and file.
“The observers have been asked to consider OBCs, minorities, and regional factors while preparing a panel of three to four candidates for each district,” a senior party source said.
Factions led by state Congress chief Amrinder Raja Warring and Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa are pushing their preferred candidates, while the group including former Chief Minister Charanjit Channi, Pargat Singh, Rana Gurjeet Singh, and Khushaldeep Dhillon is ensuring their choices are also in the fray.
A senior leader noted, “The role of district presidents will be crucial in recommending candidates for the 2027 Assembly elections.”
In Ludhiana, tensions are likely to rise due to Warring’s differences with former state Congress working president Bharat Bhushan Ashu, while the situation appears smoother for him in his home district of Muktsar. From Jalandhar Rural, Shahkot MLA Hardev S Laddi Sherowalia, a confidant of Rana Gurjeet Singh, has staked his claim. Bajwa is reportedly backing Phillaur MLA Vikramjit Chaudhary.
In Kapurthala, Bholath MLA Sukhpal Khaira and Phagwara MLA Balwinder Dhaliwal are in favour of ex-MLA Navtej Cheema, while their rival, Kapurthala MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh, has yet to reveal his choice. Hoshiarpur has seen claims from Daljit Gilzan and Vishwanath Bunty.
Previously, the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) would forward district unit chief lists to the high command for approval. Under the new “Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan” initiative, district presidents will now directly submit feedback to the party leadership.
Meanwhile, former minister and Raja Sansi MLA Sukhbinder Singh Sukh Sarkaria has been appointed in-charge for the Tarn Taran bypolls, though the poll panel has not yet announced the schedule.
