Patiala, August 2, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Factional differences within the Punjab Congress surfaced again on Saturday when supporters of former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi disrupted Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring’s speech during a party programme in Patiala.
The incident took place during the Congress’ ‘Har Booth Mazboot’ programme in the presence of AICC general secretary in charge of Punjab Bhupesh Baghel and other senior leaders.
As Warring began addressing party workers, a section of supporters raised slogans including “Charanjit Singh Channi Zindabad” and “Channi Liyao, Punjab Bachao”. Despite appeals to maintain discipline, the sloganeering continued and affected the proceedings of the district-level programme.
The incident reflected the continuing leadership tensions between supporters of Channi and Warring after the Congress high command reappointed Warring as the state party chief.
The Channi camp, comprising several MPs, MLAs and senior leaders, has previously sought a change in the state leadership, alleging that the party has faced internal divisions under Warring’s leadership. The group had also urged the central leadership to reconsider the state unit chief ahead of the Assembly elections.
A similar show of rivalry was witnessed at another programme in Sangrur, where supporters of both factions reportedly clashed in the presence of Baghel, Warring and other senior leaders.
Addressing workers in Patiala, Baghel said that if Congress receives a mandate in the upcoming Assembly elections, the Chief Minister and ministers would be decided by the party high command, including Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi.
He urged party leaders and workers to remain united and focus on defeating the Aam Aadmi Party and BJP, while emphasising booth-level organisation as the key to electoral success.
Baghel said the upcoming Punjab election could witness a multi-cornered contest involving Congress, AAP, BJP and different Akali factions. He also asked workers to counter misinformation campaigns and highlight the party’s achievements.
Punjab Congress president Warring, while addressing the gathering, said his wish was to see a Congress Chief Minister take oath while he watched the ceremony from the audience.
Baghel also criticised the AAP government over law and order issues in Punjab and accused the BJP of running negative campaigns against Punjabis during the farmers’ agitation.
Also Read – Baghel Urges Punjab Congress Workers to Unite, Strengthen Booths Ahead of Polls
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