The power struggle inside the Punjab Congress has a clear winner: Charanjit Singh Channi. Outgoing state chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring confirmed his exit on Friday, telling reporters that while AICC general secretary Sachin Pilot signaled his removal was desired, he chose to step down voluntarily to avoid further internal damage. "Channi Sahib has won," Warring said, ending a four-year tenure marked by factional tension.
Warring submitted his formal resignation directly to Rahul Gandhi, citing that the situation had reached a head. He claimed no one explicitly ordered him out, though he acknowledged Pilot wanted the change. The Congress promptly announced Pargat Singh, the former hockey captain, as the new Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president with immediate effect, according to a statement by AICC secretary K C Venugopal.
This is not the first time the party has scrambled to patch up its Punjabi unit. Just weeks ago, the leadership swapped AICC in-charge Bhupesh Baghel for Sachin Pilot, after Baghel’s efforts to calm the warring factions failed. Sukhjinder Randhawa, the AICC in-charge for Rajasthan, took partial responsibility for the chaos, admitting that leaders who created the differences now need to reflect on their actions.
The political calculus is clear. With Punjab assembly polls due in early 2026, the Congress cannot afford a divided leadership. Warring’s departure removes a key obstacle for Channi, who has long demanded control over the state unit. The party claims it has rebuilt its grassroots structure from booth to state level, but the question remains whether this new alignment can translate into votes against the incumbent Akali Dal-BJP government.
Watch what happens next. The real test will be how Pargat Singh manages the Channi faction in the coming months. If the unit remains fractured despite the new chief, the Congress risks repeating its 2022 electoral defeat. For now, the podium in Punjab belongs to Channi.