Punjab Congress Chief: The Congress on Friday appointed Pargat Singh as the new Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president with immediate effect. Singh has replaced Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, who met former party president Rahul Gandhi and handed him his formal resignation as the chief of the Punjab unit, on Friday.
Who Is Pargat Singh?
Senior Congress leader Pargat Singh is an MLA from the Jalandhar Cantt constituency. In past, he held the Education and Sports ministries in Punjab. He also played a long innings in sports. He was captain of the Indian Hockey team. Singh was honoured with the Padma Shri and the Arjuna Award.
Longstanding Infight In Punjab Unit Cost Warring His Post
Warring headed the state Congress for over four years, and his resignation comes ahead of assembly polls in the state due early next year. Longstanding infight in the state unit preceded his resignation.
The Congress recently replaced its AICC in-charge Bhupesh Baghel -- who spent weeks in Punjab recently to placate fighting factions -- and appointed Sachin Pilot in his place.
Singh's name is a surprise because former state minister Vijay Inder Singla was leading the race to become the new party chief in Punjab.
"I met Rahul Gandhi and formally gave him my resignation," Warring told reporters after meeting Gandhi.
"He (Rahul Gandhi) gave me a lot of love. He sought information about the current political situation in Punjab, on what is happening with the government and what we should be doing there. This was the information he sought," he said.
Warring said he told Gandhi about the challenges the Congress faces in Punjab as well as its strengths. "I discussed with him our challenges and how we have to fight those challenges and where our strengths lie. He made me the state Congress chief, and I thanked him for giving me the opportunity to lead the state Congress in difficult circumstances. I assured him that I am ready to serve the party whenever the party requires me," Warring said.
(With PTI inputs)