Factionalism within the Punjab Congress resurfaced in Barnala on Sunday during the party’s ‘Har Booth, Congress Mazboot’ programme, as supporters of former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi raised slogans, disrupting the event despite appeals for unity.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the incident unfolded in the presence of Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring and AICC general secretary in charge of Punjab, Bhupesh Baghel. Several senior party leaders, including local MLA Kuldeep Singh Kala Dhillon and former ministers Brahm Mohindra, Raj Kumar Verka, and Razia Sultana, were on the stage when the slogans erupted.
As the Congress leaders addressed the gathering, a segment of the crowd began chanting in support of Charanjit Singh Channi. Party president Raja Warring attempted to restore order, appealing to the workers to refrain from raising slogans to avoid jeopardising the party’s efforts. “Sara kamm kharaab ho jana hai. No Naara,” Warring was heard saying.
Local MLA Kuldeep Singh Kala Dhillon also descended from the stage to pacify the slogan-shouting individuals and manage the escalating situation. In his subsequent address, Dhillon, without naming any specific individuals, spoke about internal party dynamics and leaders who he suggested might be creating divisions. He alluded to discussions in Delhi that may not align with the party’s unified efforts on the ground.
Razia Sultana, another leader present, advised that any grievances or complaints should be directed to the party’s high command for resolution. The recurrence of such incidents highlights ongoing internal tensions within the Punjab Congress unit.
This is not the first instance of pro-Channi slogans being raised at a public gathering. Previously, similar chants were heard during Rahul Gandhi’s rally in Barnala on February 28. Following that event, Rahul Gandhi had publicly cautioned the Punjab Congress leadership against succumbing to factionalism, urging them to function as a cohesive unit or face consequences.
The ‘Har Booth, Congress Mazboot’ programme is part of the party’s broader organisational outreach campaign aimed at strengthening the Congress at the grassroots level. Another such programme was scheduled to be held in Mansa later on Sunday evening.
The repeated surfacing of factional slogans, particularly in the presence of senior leadership, indicates persistent challenges in achieving internal cohesion within the Punjab Congress. The party’s efforts to project a united front as it prepares for future political engagements appear to be hampered by these internal divisions.
Leaders at the Barnala event stressed the importance of internal discipline and collective effort, underscoring the need to overcome personal or factional differences for the greater good of the party. The intervention by state leadership aimed to de-escalate the situation and reinforce the message of unity, though the underlying issues of factionalism remain a concern for the party’s organisational health in Punjab.
The ‘Har Booth, Congress Mazboot’ initiative is designed to empower party workers at the booth level and ensure that organisational structures are robust and responsive. However, such public displays of dissent can undermine the intended impact of these outreach programmes and create an impression of disarray among the cadre and the electorate.
The party’s strategists are likely assessing the implications of these recurring incidents on its public image and its ability to consolidate support. The calls for unity from senior leaders, including the state president and AICC in-charge, signal a growing concern over the potential damage factionalism can inflict on the party’s electoral prospects.
The broader context of these events involves the Congress party’s ongoing efforts to rebuild and reassert its political standing in Punjab. Overcoming internal rifts is seen as a crucial step in this process. The recent occurrences in Barnala underscore the challenges faced by the leadership in reconciling differing loyalties and aspirations within the party ranks.
The Chenab Times News Desk