In a stern warning to its Punjab cadre, the Congress leadership has drawn a red line against factional fights and public spats. The high command’s directive came after an intensive three-hour meeting at Mallikarjun Kharge’s home in New Delhi, bringing together heavyweights like Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal, Bhupesh Baghel, Ambika Soni, and a host of Punjab stalwarts including Raja Warring, Partap Bajwa, Channi, Randhawa, and more.
The session was marked by open deliberations where every leader voiced their concerns, culminating in a roadmap for party consolidation. KC Venugopal, addressing the press, laid down the law: no indiscipline, no washing dirty linen in public. Leaders must channel all internal discussions through official party channels, avoiding media leaks or social media outbursts.
Quashing speculation on Punjab leadership overhaul, Venugopal was categorical: ‘No question of change.’ On the 30-odd leaders requesting audiences, he said personal interactions are fine, but ‘factionalism will not be tolerated at any cost.’ Kharge and Gandhi’s Punjab tours are on the cards, offering direct engagement.
Underscoring inclusivity, he detailed Congress’s pledge for proportional representation to Dalits, tribals, OBCs, and EWS. Rallying the troops with unity chants, Venugopal proclaimed, ‘We are one Congress. Together forever.’ Baghel added that ground reports show robust support for Congress rule in Punjab, with elections to be waged under unified command featuring Kharge and Gandhi prominently.
This intervention signals the high command’s proactive stance to stitch fractures, ensuring a cohesive front for electoral success in the politically volatile Punjab.