Chandigarh: Amrinder Singh Raja Warring Thursday changed his profile on social media to “Former PPCC President”, suggesting that he has resigned from the post amid a prolonged faction fight and bringing an end to his four-year tenure.“I am not the president, I know that. Whoever becomes the president, I hope he will fight,” Warring told mediapersons in Delhi, where he is expected to meet Rahul Gandhi on Friday.Congress Punjab in charge Sachin Pilot said he could not discuss the issue at that moment as he was busy with work.Vijay Inder Singla, Pargat Singh, Rana K P Singh and Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria are among those being considered for the post, said party sources, with Singla emerging as one of the frontrunners. The common factor that links the possibles is that they are seen to be acceptable to all factions.A senior party functionary called it a ‘deuce’, remarking that Congress would now begin with a clean slate.Singla, however, played down the speculation. “I am a loyal soldier of the party. Whenever I have been given a responsibility, I have always worked as a party worker. I will continue to work in the same manner with everyone in future,” the former minister said.Congress MLA Pargat Singh described the development as an internal party matter. “We work on whatever responsibility is assigned to us,” the hockey Olympian said.In Delhi, senior Punjab Congress functionary Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal amid discussions over the new appointment. Randhawa later met former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi. Sources said the leadership made it clear that everyone would have to accept its decision and work together. It is looking for a leader who can work across different factions in the state unit ahead of the 2027 assembly elections.The development follows weeks of internal differences within Punjab Congress, with Channi and Randhawa among those seeking Warring’s replacement.While Randhawa said the new appointment rested with the party high command, and it was Warring’s decision to step down, Channi called it the prerogative of the party high command, Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. “They know where to appoint whom and when to make a change. They will decide. Whether there is a change or not, that is for them to decide,” he said, saying that “such organisational changes are common”.Sachin Pilot’s appointment had created “a new hope” among party workers and the party would take that hope forward, he reiterated.Congress MP Dr Amar Singh echoed his views. “The high command had appointed him (Warring), and it will appoint the next one. Whoever is appointed, we will work with them. We all follow the directions of the All India Congress Committee,” he said.Mann Takes A DigPunjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann took a swipe at Congress, saying they could never unite for Punjab but they get united to replace the PPCC chief. “Now Warring has resigned. All Punjab leaders will be after the new chief to be announced in coming days,” he said.
