Chandigarh: With the Punjab Congress feud showing no sign of easing, leader of opposition Partap Singh Bajwa met Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, seeking the high command’s intervention amid renewed pressure from dissident leaders for a change in the state party leadership.AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venulgopal was also present in the meeting.The latest push follows meetings of Congress functionaries in Chandigarh and Delhi, including one at MP Sher Singh Ghubaya’s residence and a dinner hosted by former deputy chief minister and MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. Former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Ghubaya, Patiala MP Dharamvira Gandhi, Kapurthala MLA Rana Gurjeet Singh and Jalandhar Cantonment MLA Pargat Singh were among those present.Sources said there was broad agreement that Bajwa, the senior-most leader and leader of opposition, would seek time with the high command to convey the concerns of the dissident camp. Bajwa has already written to the party leadership seeking a meeting on behalf of Punjab Congress MLAs.The main demand remains a change in Punjab Congress leadership, with the dissident camp seeking the removal of PPCC president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and appointment of a new state chief.Bajwa is learnt to have apprised the high command of the ground situation and concerns that the continuing feud could hurt Congress’s prospects in the 2027 elections. Leaders have sought an early meeting to resolve the grievances and enable the party to begin its poll campaign.Several dissident MLAs and leaders have been in Delhi for two days but had yet to get an appointment with the top leadership.Earlier efforts by Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel and AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal failed to resolve the differences. Venugopal recently met Channi in Delhi, while Bajwa had also met him. Baghel submitted his assessment to the high command after consultations with state leaders, followed by a meeting with the dissidents, but differences persisted.Sources said several functionaries, particularly those backing Channi, were also unhappy with Baghel’s handling of the crisis and accused him of favouring Warring instead of bridging differencs between rival camps.The rift came into the open after Congress retained Warring as PPCC chief on July 1. The divide deepened during the nine-day ‘Har Booth, Congress Mazboot’ campaign, when Baghel and Warring toured the state. Channi supporters raised slogans at some programmes, while protests against Baghel were also reported. Tensions at some meetings reportedly led to scuffles, prompting Baghel to warn of disciplinary action.The feud also spilled into a poster war, with posters portraying Baghel as General Dyer, along with posters targeting Warring and seeking action against Channi.A senior functionary said the high command must resolve the issue without further delay, as the 2027 elections were approaching and the AAP had already begun its preparations.
