The rift within the Punjab Congress widened on Saturday after former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi visited suspended party leader Madan Lal Jalalpur at his residence in Patiala and urged the party leadership to revoke his suspension.
Describing Jalalpur as "an asset to the Congress party", Channi said leaders with experience and electoral success should be valued rather than sidelined.
"Madan Lal Jalalpur is my brother. He is an asset, and such leaders should be preserved, not sidelined," Channi said.
Highlighting Jalalpur's political contributions, Channi noted that he had won two Assembly elections from Ghanaur and had played a key role in the electoral victories of former MP Preneet Kaur and former Patiala MP Dr Dharamvira Gandhi.
Jalalpur was suspended over his alleged remarks against the party leadership. Referring to the disciplinary action, Channi said he would personally raise the matter with Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and the party high command.
"We should move together like a bouquet, taking everyone along. Congress can only become stronger if experienced leaders remain united," he said.
Pointing out that several senior leaders had left the party in recent years, Channi urged the leadership to avoid further divisions and instead focus on strengthening the organisation.
"Our fight is not among ourselves. Our fight is for Punjab. We have to strengthen the Congress and take everyone along," he added.
The apparent leadership tussle between Channi and Warring has placed the Punjab Congress in an awkward position ahead of the Assembly elections scheduled for next year.
The tensions were also on display during party programmes held by the district units in Patiala and Sangrur on Saturday. Slogans in support of Channi were raised in the presence of AICC general secretary in charge of Punjab Bhupesh Baghel and several senior Congress leaders, including MP Amar Singh and Brahm Mohindra.
Soon after Warring began addressing the gathering, Channi's supporters raised slogans such as "Charanjit Singh Channi zindabad", "Channi teri soch te pehra deyange thok ke", and "Channi liyao, Punjab bachao", briefly disrupting the proceedings.
A visibly upset Warring repeatedly appealed to party workers to maintain discipline and allow the meeting to continue. However, the slogan shouting persisted for some time before order was restored and the programme resumed.
The murmurs of discontent began after the Congress decided to retain Warring as its Punjab unit president, and appointed Channi the chairperson of its campaign committee. A section of leaders led by Channi and Randhawa opposed the move to retain Warring as the Punjab Congress president and sought his removal from the position.
