Punjab Congress leadership clash intensifies ahead of 2027 election

Internal dissent within the Punjab unit of the Indian National Congress has deepened as supporters of former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi and senior leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa oppose the current state president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring. A meeting chaired by Congress in‑charge Bhupesh Baghel in Chandigarh failed to reach a consensus, and the dispute is now slated for review by the party’s High Command, with calls to appoint a new Punjab president and to project Channi as the chief‑ministerial candidate.

The leadership rift occurs against a broader political backdrop in Punjab. The ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) faces growing anti‑incumbency sentiment over delayed promises and a religious controversy with the Akal Takht, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seeks to expand its influence among Sikh voters. Analysts warn that Congress’s factionalism could diminish its ability to capitalise on AAP’s vulnerabilities in the upcoming 2027 Assembly polls.