The All India Congress Committee on Oct. 2, 2026, appointed MLA and former Indian men’s hockey team captain Pargat Singh as the new president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee.
reached the decision following the formal resignation of outgoing state party chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, who handed his resignation to former Congress president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi. Warring had served as the state unit president since April 22, 2022.
Speaking to reporters in New Delhi after his meeting with Gandhi, Warring stated that he discussed the current political situation in Punjab and outlined the party’s challenges and strengths ahead. Warring added that he remains prepared to serve the organization in any capacity assigned to him.
The change in state leadership comes ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections and follows months of internal factionalism, including a public turf war between Warring and former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi. To address organizational friction in the state, the Congress central leadership recently appointed Sachin Pilot to replace Bhupesh Baghel as the party in-charge for Punjab.
Party sources noted that Pargat Singh, who represents the Jalandhar Cantonment constituency as an MLA, was chosen in part due to his non-controversial image and potential to unify competing internal factions. Other leaders considered for the role during discussions included former minister Vijay Inder Singla, Charanjit Singh Channi, and Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa.
Pargat Singh previously served as a cabinet minister in Punjab and has held organizational responsibilities within the party. Prior to his political career, he played for Punjab Police and Indian Railways, served as Punjab’s director of sports, and was appointed as the head coach of the Indian national hockey team in 1998. He received the Arjuna Award in 1989 and the Padma Shri in 1998.
Sources:
– The Hindu: https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/punjab/amarinder-singh-raja-warring-resigns-as-congress-punjab-chief-hands-resignation-to-rahul-gandhi/article71536611.ece
– NDTV: https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/punjab-congress-chief-amarinder-singh-raja-warring-resigns-successor-to-be-chosen-soon-12121991#publisher=newsstand
– India Today: https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/amarinder-singh-raja-warring-resigns-as-punjab-congress-chief-ahead-of-assembly-elections-3006999-2026-09-30?utm_source=rss
– Hindustan Times: https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pargat-singh-appointed-punjab-congress-chief-after-warrings-exit-takes-charge-ahead-of-2027-assembly-polls-101790956048595.html
Source: The Hindu – National
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Story synopsis gathered from: The Hindu – National — source
