Chandigarh, July 7 (IANS) Amid a deepening rift within the Punjab Congress, with senior leader Partap Bajwa calling for greater discipline ahead of the 2027 assembly elections, the party’s Punjab affairs in-charge Bhupesh Baghel on Tuesday said the party was “the only option,” and people were looking forward to it.

However, several “sulking” Congress leaders, including former Chief Minister Charanjit Channi, were conspicuously absent from the “damage-control” meeting called by Baghel in Chandigarh.

Toeing the “middle-way” path, Leader of the Opposition Partap Bajwa told the media that Bhupesh Baghel is here and it makes no difference if someone has gone elsewhere. He added that Delhi is also the capital of India, and that Channi has not left the country.

Party sources said Member of Parliament Channi and his supporters are likely to raise their concerns with the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, in Delhi.

The development comes in the wake of Baghel’s five-day visit to Chandigarh for consultations aimed at bridging differences among the party leadership. Baghel, who reached here on Monday, held meetings with the party’s working presidents and office-bearers, followed by discussions with district Congress presidents.

While presiding over a meeting of District Congress Committee presidents, Baghel expressed confidence that the party was fully prepared for the battle ahead.

He said the people of Punjab were completely disillusioned with the Aam Aadmi Party, which had not only betrayed them but also brought Punjab to the brink of bankruptcy and lawlessness.

He said other opposition parties, like the Akali Dal and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), were nowhere in the reckoning, and people were looking forward only to the Congress.

He said this was the time to meet the expectations of the people of the state.

Baghel said there is complete unity of purpose and mission among the party leaders and workers, and that the mission is to see the Congress back in the saddle in Punjab in the 2027 assembly elections, adding that there is a lot of energy and enthusiasm among the party’s rank and file.

In a special message to the district presidents, he said they hold one of the most important and influential positions in the party, as they serve as the interface between the party and the common people. He assured them that they will be more empowered.

Baghel will meet senior leaders, office-bearers, and workers over the next three days.

Meanwhile, Sukhwinder Singh Danny and Raj Kumar Verka took charge as the working presidents of the Punjab Congress Committee. He also attended the ceremony for the newly elected Punjab Youth Congress president, Shuvam Devgan.

Verka, who also met Channi at his residence, told the media that Channi is his friend and like a brother to him. He said he stands with Channi, and Channi stands with him, and there is no doubt about that. He added that all of them are with the Congress and are led by LoP Rahul Gandhi, Kharge, and Baghel, and that they will all work together.

Baghel also held a meeting with the Congress Legislative Party leader Partap Singh Bajwa, Manifesto Committee Chairperson Amar Singh, Election Management and Coordination Committee Vijay Inder Singla, former Speaker Rana KP Singh, Co-Chairman of the Campaign Committee Sukhpal Singh Khaira, Co-Chairperson of Manifesto Committee Hardial Kambhoj, Co-Chairman Election Management Committee Kuljeet Nagra and others.

Last week, supporters, comprising several former legislators who owe allegiance to former CM Channi, one of the prominent Dalit faces, expressed solidarity and demanded that their leader be appointed the state Congress chief, replacing incumbent Amarinder Singh Raja Warring. They gave a week’s ultimatum to the party’s central leadership on July 3 to take a call on Channi’s leadership, saying that under Warring’s leadership, the Congress cannot come to power.

–IANS

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