Rift Deepens in Punjab Congress: Senior Leaders Voice Dissent Against State Chief Warring and LoP Bajwa

Rift Deepens in Punjab Congress: Senior Leaders Voice Dissent Against State Chief Warring and LoP Bajwa

New Delhi/Chandigarh – April 5, 2025: Fresh cracks have emerged in the Punjab Congress with several senior party leaders reportedly raising concerns over the leadership style of state president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and Leader of Opposition (LoP) Partap Singh Bajwa. The dissent came to light during a meeting with the party’s Punjab affairs incharge Bhupesh Baghel in New Delhi on Thursday.

According to reliable sources, the disgruntled leaders accused Warring of excluding senior members from key decision-making processes and objected to the show-cause notice issued to former Faridkot MLA and state vice-president Karan Kaur Dhillon for alleged indiscipline.

Internal Discord Surfaces Again in Punjab Congress

While Warring attempted to downplay the developments, stating the meeting was “to strengthen the party, not against anyone,” sources confirmed that tensions within the party’s Punjab unit are growing. This internal rift comes just days after Baghel had convened a previous high-level meeting to iron out ideological and operational differences among top state leaders.

“The leaders felt the notice served to Dhillon was uncalled for, as her comments during a recent media interview were not against the party,” a source close to the matter revealed.

Leaders Voice Concerns Over Leadership Exclusion and Vendetta Politics

Key Congress figures — including Pargat Singh and Bharat Bhushan Ashu — are said to have voiced frustration over lack of support from the top leadership. Ashu, who is the party’s candidate for the upcoming Ludhiana (West) bypoll, is currently facing corruption charges related to foodgrain transportation and reportedly lamented that he was left to face political vendetta by the AAP government alone.

“There is a growing sentiment among senior Congress leaders in Punjab that their inputs and concerns are being sidelined,” another party insider commented.

Pargat Singh is also believed to have criticized LoP Partap Singh Bajwa, adding to the narrative of widespread dissatisfaction within the state unit.

No Change in Leadership, Yet Discontent Lingers

This is not the first time Punjab Congress has witnessed calls for a leadership overhaul. Recently, veteran Congress leader Rana Gurjeet Singh had called Warring “a selfish leader” and expressed willingness to take over as the state chief. However, Bhupesh Baghel dismissed speculations of any leadership change at that time.

Warring, responding to the current situation, maintained that the show-cause notice to Dhillon was an “internal matter” and did not signal a wider conflict.