Just four months ago, on February 28, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi while addressing the ‘MGNREGA Bachao' public rally in Barnala issued a strict warning to the party leaders against resorting to factionalism. He was clear and categorical, telling everyone that no one was bigger than the party, that the elections are won through teamwork and everyone must become a team player or be prepared to sit at home.
This was an impromptu reaction after the supporters of Charanjit Singh Channi raised slogans in his favour while Gandhi was addressing the rally. It was more than obvious that the snub was directly aimed at Channi.
This was followed by a similar categorical warning by Congress general secretary-organisation KC Venugopal during a strategy meeting of the party leaders from Punjab that factionalism will not be tolerated at any cost. After that meeting Venugopal had also announced that there will be no leadership change in Punjab, thus making it clear that incumbent president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring will continue till the elections.
Immediately after Venugopal released the list of various office bearers for Punjab ahead of the 2027 assembly elections recently, there was defiance by a significant section of the leadership from the state. Leading them is Charanjit Singh Channi, former chief minister whom the party was projecting as its prominent Dalit face. In the list of appointments released by Venugopal, Channi’s name as chairman of the campaign committee was on the top. It was obvious that the only prominent appointment in the long list was that of Channi’s. Others were consolatory positions on panels like core committee, manifesto committee, election management committee and so on.
Also read: Punjab Cong leaders unite against Warring ahead of Baghel's visit
But Channi was not impressed. Having emerged as one of the shrewdest politicians in Punjab in recent years, he capitalised on the opposition to Warring from other leaders and rallied them around himself. The rebels, who are quite substantial in number, have been unanimous in demanding that Channi be appointed PCC president, some even suggesting that he may be announced the chief ministerial candidate.
It is not that these leaders have any special fondness for Channi. They know he is not any towering leader who can deliver victory for the party in Punjab. In 2022, Channi lost from both the assembly segments of Bhadaur and Chamkaur Sahib while being the chief minister. Chamkaur Sahib was supposed to be his pocket borough from where he had been elected continuously for three terms.
The leaders rallying behind Channi are doing it more for their adversity towards Warring than for any special fondness for him. Otherwise, in the overall scheme of things, as far as elections are concerned, none of them is in a position to make any difference to the party's overall fortunes.
Now the challenge before the party high command is how to tackle the rebellion without caving in to the pressure. Any leniency or concession to the rebels will simply and straightway mean undermining the authority of the high command, particularly Gandhi, who had issued a clear warning against indiscipline and factionalism.
Gandhi is currently out of the country and is scheduled to be back in a few days. Meanwhile, former Chhattisgarh chief minister and Congress general secretary in charge of Punjab Bhupesh Baghel reached Chandigarh for firefighting measures. However, the entire group of rebel leaders left for Delhi before his arrival. The rebels have sought time from the party leadership, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi and KC Venugopal.
Also read: Congress faces rebellion in Punjab
It is going to be a tough call for the high command to take. Making any changes under pressure will open the proverbial Pandora’s box for the party across the country. Moreover, the party has realised that succumbing to pressure and blackmail has only led to disaster. The party succumbed to Navjot Singh Sidhu’s pressure in 2021 and eventually removed Capt Amarinder Singh, which everyone in the Congress now realises was a fatal blunder. Given that experience, the party will probably stick to its guns this time, come what may.
How far the rebels will be prepared to go in this battle remains to be seen. The Congress must not have expected such a challenge to come ahead of the elections. When other parties are busy planning and strategising, particularly the ruling Aam Aadmi Party already in full gear, the Congress has first to set its house in order. And that does not seem to be an easy task. At stake is not only the Congress’ prospect in Punjab, but the authority of the high command which stands challenged.
Given Rahul Gandhi’s assertions in the recent past, he is quite unlikely to give into any pressure no matter what price the party may have to pay. And he will be right in this. No national party can run under pressure from the state or regional leadership.
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