A political program organized by the Congress party in Bathinda district, Punjab, was disrupted on Monday when a faction of party workers boycotted the event and raised slogans in support of former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi. The incident occurred in the presence of senior party leaders, including All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in charge of Punjab, Bhupesh Baghel, and Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the disruption began as Raja Warring commenced his speech at the ‘Har Booth, Congress Mazboot’ program held at Goneana Mandi. Several workers, positioned near the stage, started chanting slogans favouring Channi. In response to the demonstration, Warring invited one of the youth raising slogans onto the stage, suggesting they call Channi on his phone before the assembled crowd.
When the call to Channi went unanswered, Warring humorously advised the youth to take his own contact number instead. Addressing the attendees subsequently, Warring suggested that the slogan-shouting was orchestrated to disrupt the event rather than to express genuine support for Channi. He pointed fingers at individuals from Rampura and Talwandi constituencies, implying they had financial motives and had previously changed party affiliations.
Warring stated, “They have come from Rampura… They have got crores. These black sheep will not get a ticket. Talwandi, Rampura-they have changed constituencies and even changed parties.” He further elaborated, “They had not come to raise slogans for Channi Sahib. They had come to disrupt the programme. Eh sauda karde ne (They indulge in deals).” He also asserted that those who had betrayed the party would not be given tickets. Warring further alleged that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was covertly sending individuals to Congress programs to create disturbances.
Following the main event, Congress workers continued to raise slogans outside the venue. Some participants indicated that the protesting workers had arrived from the Maur constituency. Notably, former minister and ex-MLA Gurpreet Kangar, who previously represented the Rampura Phul Assembly constituency, was absent from the program.
The incident highlights internal factionalism within the Punjab Congress unit. The ‘Har Booth, Congress Mazboot’ initiative aims to strengthen the party’s organizational base at the booth level across the state. Such programs are crucial for party cadre mobilization and strategizing ahead of upcoming electoral cycles. However, the disruption points to underlying tensions related to leadership preferences and candidate selection, particularly concerning the legacy of Charanjit Singh Channi, who served as Chief Minister before the party’s defeat in the 2022 assembly elections.
The Punjab Congress has been grappling with internal power dynamics since the last assembly elections. Efforts by the state leadership to project a united front have often been challenged by the presence of various prominent leaders and their respective support bases. The recent episode in Bathinda underscores the persistent challenges in consolidating party unity and presenting a cohesive image to the electorate. The allegations of external sabotage, if true, would indicate a broader political strategy to weaken the opposition parties in the state.
Bhupesh Baghel, a senior leader from Chhattisgarh and in-charge of Punjab affairs, was present to oversee the party’s organizational strengthening efforts. His presence was intended to lend weight to the ‘Har Booth, Congress Mazboot’ campaign. However, the public display of dissent during his visit is seen as a significant setback for the party’s attempts to project an image of unity and preparedness.
The Congress party in Punjab is attempting to regroup and re-establish its electoral relevance in the state, which is currently governed by the Aam Aadmi Party. The internal rifts, if not addressed effectively, could impede the party’s ability to mount a strong challenge in future elections. The comments made by Raja Warring suggest a tough stance against those perceived as dissidents or turncoats, indicating a potential move towards disciplinary action against party members involved in anti-party activities.
The Chenab Times News Desk