Chandigarh: In the first sign of softening of stance, former CM Charanjit Singh Channi signalled on Wednesday that his camp would ultimately abide by Congress’s election strategy. Describing Rahul Gandhi as his leader, Channi said, “Elections are seven months away. Whatever strategy the party adopts, we will work accordingly and contest the elections.”This was preceded by a clear message from Punjab Congress affairs in charge Bhupesh Baghel during the day that “no pressure works on the party high command”.Baghel has been here for three days, trying to resolve the crisis, but Channi and former deputy CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa have not yet met him. On Wednesday, Baghel reiterated that he was ready to meet Channi, Randhawa and any of the dissident group members even if they don’t come to meet him.According to sources, the Channi camp is meeting on Thursday to chart its next course of action and decide whether to meet Baghel. They had earlier decided to approach Congress high command directly with their concerns instead of routing them through Baghel.Baghel told mediapersons that he has spoken with Channi and Randhawa over phone. “They told me they were busy with some work and were out of town, but would get in touch with me after they returned. Either I will visit their homes for tea or they can come to the PCC office,” he said. Baghel, however, ruled out any possibility of the high command revisiting its decision under pressure.“No pressure works on the party high command. I do not believe decisions are made under pressure, nor should they be. Therefore, the decisions that have already been taken will remain in effect. Once the high command has taken a decision, it will not be changed. Is it a ‘gudda-guddi ka khel’?” he said.Warring too reiterated his willingness to engage with the dissenting leaders, saying he would personally meet each of them. He said that if anyone was dissatisfied with him, he was prepared to make every effort to win their support. “They are all more capable than me and senior to me,” Warring said.Back-channel efforts to break the impasse gathered pace. Former cabinet minister Razia Sultana, who attended the Channi group meeting in Mohali, met Baghel on Wednesday. Congress MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla also met Channi a day after Punjab Congress working president Raj Kumar Verka had spoken with the former CM.Aujla told TOI that he urged Channi to place the grievances before the senior leadership so that issues be resolved at the earliest. “We are trying to resolve the grievances so that everyone comes on the same page and launches a collective campaign against AAP govt,” Aujla said.Describing the issue as a “family matter”, Verka said there was flexibility in the process of dialogue. “They can come to us or we can go to them. Those who still want to meet Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge or KC Venugopal will have their meetings facilitated. Discussions are on. Our effort is to speak to everyone who has grievances and address their concerns,” he said.However, former MLA Karan Kaur Brar, daughter-in-law of former Punjab CM Harcharan Singh Brar, who hails from Muktsar, Warring’s home district, hit out at him, saying: “Whoever Congress high command appoints as state president, I will accept. However, I believe the current president has created a great deal of discord within the party.”Congress national spokesperson Udit Raj said factionalism has often proved costly for the party and urged leaders to resolve their differences through organisational mechanisms. “The fault lies with us. We lost Uttarakhand election because of infighting and factionalism. Whenever we lose, factionalism is the primary reason. If there are grievances, they should be raised on the appropriate platform. In my view, the leaders should have met Bhupesh Baghel. By taking these matters into the public domain, it’s only strengthening BJP,” he said.Channi On Jalalpur Asked about the showcause notice issued to former MLA Madan Lal Jalalpur, who attended the Channi camp meetings, the former CM said he would comment only after examining the matter.
