The ruling AAP in Punjab is facing significant challenges as the state heads towards another election season, with growing anti-incumbency and the potential for a comeback by the Congress party. The Congress, previously hampered by internal factional wars, is showing signs of renewed strength under the leadership of Sachin Pilot, who has effectively bridged divides between key state leaders.

The ruling AAP in Punjab is facing significant challenges as the state heads towards another election season, with growing anti-incumbency and the potential for a comeback by the Congress party. The Congress, previously hampered by internal factional wars, is showing signs of renewed strength under the leadership of Sachin Pilot, who has effectively bridged divides between key state leaders.

The ruling AAP in Punjab is facing significant challenges as the state heads towards another election season, with growing anti-incumbency and the potential for a comeback by the Congress party. The Congress, previously hampered by internal factional wars, is showing signs of renewed strength under the leadership of Sachin Pilot, who has effectively bridged divides between key state leaders.

The AAP came to power in Punjab in 2022, with the people deciding to explore a new option outside the traditional Akali Dal and Congress duopoly. Another election season is here, but there is no wave to be seen in the border state, making it challenging for the AAP to retain power amid growing anti-incumbency.

What adds to the AAP's worries is the Congress's possible comeback. The party had been struggling in the perception battle over the past few months due to factional wars between its leaders. The routine spectacle of bickering had diminished the prospects of the Congress aligning its unit, making it look weak. But after the bonhomie between the two factional camps—state unit president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi—during the recent protest in Chandigarh, where both leaders were sitting beside Sachin Pilot (one on each side) and talking to each other, the Congress appears to have made a head start.

Earlier, political observers claimed that if the factional war didn't end between the two leaders, it could give Punjab to the AAP on a platter. As things seem to be turning around for the grand old party, much credit appears to go to Sachin Pilot, who was appointed as general secretary in-charge of the state, replacing former chief minister Bhupesh Baghel. In his first public appearance in Punjab, he successfully had the bickering leaders in one frame—something that is seen as a big shift within the Congress ranks. However, seat distribution could be another flashpoint between the factional leaders.

The contrast is evident. Party insiders say Bhupesh Baghel was seen with Warring most of the time, creating bad optics and helping the Channi camp double down on its factional war against the Baghel-Warring duo. "Baghel could not balance the game of optics within his own party. He was seen too much with Warring, and that set too many tongues wagging against him," a party insider said.

While the Congress party has a strong organisational base in Punjab, Pilot's leadership push could organise the party well, set its goals right, and create a multiplier effect on the ground. Notably, the AAP's separate front in Goa against the Congress and other parties could further intensify the battle in Punjab, where the Congress would want to root out the party so that the AAP is left with no ruling state and, therefore, no financial capital to invest in other elections. The Congress believes a fall in Punjab could cripple the AAP, which rode to prominence on its anti-corruption campaign in Delhi.

The AAP had a prominent role in diminishing the existence of the Congress nationally. But the grand old party's leaders believe a victory in Punjab could help the Congress give it back to the AAP. Yet, as promising as it seems for the Congress, Pilot's role is also expected to be significant, given his past record in organising, mobilising, and balancing political equations—for example, in the 2017 victory in Rajasthan while serving as the state unit president and bringing the party back to power.

A victory in Punjab can not only leverage Pilot's political standing within the party but also strengthen his position ahead of Rajasthan, which will go to the polls a year after Punjab. It could also make him a singular heavyweight leader in the race for leadership in Rajasthan, as Gehlot is reported to have eroded his relationship with the Gandhis.

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