Jagran Bureau, Delhi: Punjab Congress is witnessing a major upheaval inside the party ahead of the assembly elections as a faction led by former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi is demanding the removal of state unit chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring. The issue has now escalated and reached the party high command in Delhi, which is finding the path to reconciliation difficult.

Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal and Punjab Congress General Secretary Bhupesh Baghel have stepped forward to quell the conflict. While Baghel arrived in Chandigarh on Monday, Channi reportedly moved to Delhi, indicating that his camp is in no mood to give up on the demand for a change in the state Congress leadership.

It is believed that Venugopal had, after consulting with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, dispatched Baghel to Chandigarh on Monday.

How did fault lines erupt?

The internal rift within the Punjab Congress erupted after the Congress high command formed various committees for the Punjab elections last week. However, state president Raja Warring wasn't removed.

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Several senior Punjab Congress leaders, including Channi and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, have rallied against the high command's decision, holding two major meetings in the past five days.

To end the turmoil within the party ahead of the assembly elections, Raja Warring, at the behest of the high command, has twice declared himself unwilling to run for chief minister. However, his assurance wasn't taken with much faith by Channi, Randhawa, and their supporters.

Baghel pins hope on mutual discussion for resolving dispute

In Chandigarh, Baghel announced that the election committees would begin meetings on Tuesday, expressing hope that the dispute would be resolved through mutual discussion and that the Congress would fight the elections with complete and unified strength.

However, Channi supporters apparently paid no heed to Baghel's statement either, indicating that the high command's current decision was unacceptable to them.

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Channi wanted to be state chief

Reportedly, Channi was staking his claim for the PPCC chief, but the high command appointed him chairman of the election campaign committee.

Channi and Randhawa are reportedly now agreeing that if they are not appointed president, Warring should also not remain in the post. Instead, another person should be appointed to head the Punjab Congress.