‘We Don’t Want a Compromised Leader’: Randhawa Escalates Attack on Warring After Baghel Meeting with Channi Camp

Chandigarh, July 11, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)

The leadership crisis within the Punjab Congress showed no signs of easing on Saturday, with senior party leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa declaring that the dissident camp had clearly conveyed to Punjab Congress affairs in-charge Bhupesh Baghel that it did not want a “compromised leader” heading the party in the state.

Speaking to the media after a nearly 90-minute meeting between the dissident group and Baghel at the residence of senior Congress leader Rana Gurjeet Singh in Chandigarh, Randhawa said the leaders had urged the party high command to appoint someone capable of raising the party’s voice fearlessly in Punjab.

“We have made it clear that we do not want a compromised leader to lead the Punjab Congress. We want a leader who can speak loudly and strongly for the party,” Randhawa said.

‘Decisions Can Change’

When asked about the recent decision of the Congress high command to retain Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president, Randhawa remarked that political decisions are not always permanent.

“Sometimes decisions get changed,” he said, hinting that the issue of the state leadership was still far from settled.

Channi Asks Randhawa to Address Media

In an interesting development, Bhupesh Baghel left for the airport immediately after the meeting without making any joint appearance with the dissident leaders.

Only after Baghel’s departure did former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and other leaders emerge from Rana Gurjeet Singh’s residence. Channi then asked Randhawa to brief the waiting media.

Randhawa claimed that 92 out of 117 Congress leaders, including MLAs and Assembly constituency in-charges, attended the meeting.

He said the delegation had placed before Baghel the sentiments of party workers and grassroots leaders with the objective of strengthening the Congress ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.

“Our only concern is that the Congress should return to power in Punjab in 2027. We have conveyed the feelings of workers to the party leadership,” Randhawa said.

Channi Camp Maintains Silence

Following Randhawa’s brief two-minute statement, neither Charanjit Singh Channi nor most of the senior leaders present interacted with the media. While a few leaders answered limited questions, they refrained from making detailed comments, keeping their political strategy closely guarded.

Baghel: Leaders Shared Their Sentiments

Earlier in the day, before meeting the dissident camp, Bhupesh Baghel told reporters that no leader had expressed dissatisfaction with the decisions taken by the Congress high command.

He, however, acknowledged that leaders had shared their sentiments, which he would communicate to the party leadership in New Delhi.

Baghel also sought to reassure party workers by stating that tickets for the 2027 Assembly elections would be awarded solely on the basis of winnability rather than factional affiliations.

Notably, Baghel refrained from commenting on Raja Warring’s future as Punjab Congress chief. His silence came despite having repeatedly maintained in recent days that the decision to retain Warring as PPCC president was final.

Senior Leaders Attend Meeting

The meeting was attended by several senior Congress leaders, including Partap Singh Bajwa, Rana Gurjeet Singh, Pargat Singh, Tripat Rajinder Singh Bajwa, O.P. Soni, Mohammad Sadiq, Sangat Singh Gilzian, Raj Kumar Verka, Gurkirat Singh Kotli, Aruna Chaudhary, Laadi Sherowalia, Barindermeet Singh Pahra, Barinder Dhillon, besides other MLAs, former ministers and constituency in-charges.

The meeting is being viewed as a significant show of strength by the Channi camp amid continuing differences over the Punjab Congress leadership.

Also Read: ‘One Lion, One King’: Raja Warring Camp Responds With Kulbir Zira’s Post on X as Baghel Meets Channi Faction