New Delhi — senior Punjab Congress figures Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi were appointed chairs of two election‑related committees by the party’s national high command, according to a statement released on Tuesday.
The appointments come as the party’s state leadership seeks to reshape its strategy ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. Randhawa, a former Punjab cabinet minister, was named chair of the “Election Strategy Committee,” while Channi, who defected from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to join the Congress in 2022, was given charge of the “Campaign Coordination Committee.”
Both leaders have been vocal about internal restructuring. In a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on Monday, Randhawa discussed the Congress’s plans for the upcoming polls and sought the federal government’s cooperation on law‑and‑order issues in Punjab. Shah, who heads the Ministry of Home Affairs, did not comment publicly on the meeting’s specifics.
Following the appointments, a group of senior Congress legislators and senior party functionaries met in Chandigarh and formally requested that Channi be elevated to the post of state party chief. The petition, circulated among party members, cites Channi’s experience as chief minister and his perceived ability to broaden the Congress’s appeal among rural and Dalit voters.
Party president Mallikarjun Kharge has not yet confirmed whether Channi will be appointed state chief, but the high command’s decision to place him in a senior committee role is seen as a step toward that goal.
Analysis:
The dual appointments signal an effort by the Congress to consolidate leadership that can challenge the incumbent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab. By giving Channi a prominent role, the party may be attempting to leverage his former BJP affiliation to attract disaffected voters, especially in the state’s agrarian and lower‑caste constituencies. Randhawa’s meeting with Amit Shah could be an attempt to secure federal support or at least a neutral stance from the central government, which may be crucial if electoral tensions rise.
The move also reflects internal pressure within the Punjab unit to replace current state chief Amrinder Singh Raja, whose leadership has faced criticism after the Congress’s poor performance in recent by‑elections. If Channi is installed as state chief, it would mark a rapid rise for a former rival party member, raising questions about the Congress’s long‑term cohesion and candidate selection processes.
Sources
– Hindustan Times, “Punjab Congress leaders seek Channi as state chief; Randhawa meets Amit Shah,” July 4 2026, https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/punjab-congress-leaders-seek-channi-as-state-chief-randhawa-meets-amit-shah-101783127902818.html
Story synopsis gathered from: Hindustan Times – India News — source
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