Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Friday said AICC general secretary in charge of Punjab Bhupesh Baghel will meet former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Saturday. He said Baghel will first hold a one-on-one meeting with Channi before meeting other party leaders.
Warring's statement came after a meeting between Baghel and the Channi camp, which was scheduled for Friday, was postponed.
Talking to mediapersons, Warring said Baghel had informed him about Saturday's meeting. He said Baghel plans to speak to leaders individually before holding a joint meeting.
"Bhupesh Baghel informed me that a meeting has been scheduled for tomorrow, though I am unaware of the venue or the arrangements... He told me that he would speak privately first, and then we would sit down for a discussion... I believe you will see everyone on a shared platform within the next day or two... Name just one senior leader who has said they are unwilling to accept the President," Warring said.
Reacting to the developments, Congress MP Kumari Selja dismissed reports of a major divide within the party. "There is no issue. Everyone will meet," she said. The meeting comes amid speculation over differences within the Punjab Congress after recent organisational changes in the state unit.
On Thursday, senior Congress leaders, including Charanjit Singh Channi, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Pargat Singh, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Gurkirat Singh Kotli and Barindermeet Singh Pahra, met and sought to send a message of unity.
After the meeting, Randhawa said the gathering showed that while leaders may have different opinions, the party remains united. "Today, Pargat Singh has given a clear message that there may be differences of opinion, but the Congress stands together," Randhawa said.
Pargat Singh said the party high command was aware of the situation and efforts were being made to resolve the issues. "The party high command is in the loop. We are talking to resolve things," he said.
Congress MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh said the meeting boosted his confidence and that the leaders discussed the party's future strategy.
"Congress leaders, including Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Pargat Singh, and others, met today. Congress party will not sit silently. We will raise our voice against anything that goes against democracy. The meeting today boosted my morale. We had a strategic discussion," Rana added. He said the leaders agreed that the party must strongly raise its voice whenever democratic values are undermined.
"Charanjit Singh Channi, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Pargat Singh, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Gurkirat Kotli and Barindermeet Singh Pahra visited me together today and said that the Congress party would not sit idly by. If there is any subversion of democracy, we must raise our voices against it. That is the strategy the Congress party must adopt. They have boosted my morale, and I thanked them. We were discussing whether to knock on the court's door or organise a major event to address the situation," he said.
Rana dismissed reports of any deadlock within the party. He said he had spoken to Congress secretary Suraj Thakur but not to Bhupesh Baghel. "I haven't spoken to Baghel. As for Suraj Thakur, our secretary, I have spoken to him. Where is the deadlock? All is Well. No one is outside the purview of the High Command. Everything will be fine when the time comes," he added.
Earlier, Baghel had said he would meet Channi and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa after they skipped an important party meeting. He also defended the decisions of the Congress high command, saying its decisions are final and cannot be changed repeatedly. Baghel also backed the reappointment of Warring as Punjab Congress president.
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