Punjab Congress Rift Deepens As Charanjit Singh Channi Backs Suspended Leader Jalalpur

Last Updated:August 02, 2026, 08:15 IST

After meeting Jalalpur, Channi criticised the suspension of senior leaders and urged the party leadership to address concerns raised by its members.

Former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi’s visit to suspended ex-MLA Madan Lal Jalalpur’s residence on Friday brought the Congress party’s internal divisions back into focus, with the move widely viewed as a message to Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring.

The development came shortly after Jalalpur accused Warring of acting against him for speaking out about issues within the party, highlighting the continuing rift in the Punjab Congress despite attempts by the central leadership to ease tensions.

After meeting Jalalpur, Channi criticised the suspension of senior leaders and urged the party leadership to address concerns raised by its members.

“This is not a fight for any post or the party presidency. It is about Punjab’s issues. The leadership should carry everyone along. Our real fight is against those who come from Delhi to rule Punjab," Channi said, in comments interpreted as criticism of the AAP government and an indication of dissatisfaction within the Congress.

Jalalpur maintained that he had been punished simply for calling for greater unity within the organisation.

“I never used any disrespectful words against KC Venugopal or Bhupesh Baghel. Both are respected leaders. I only said the Congress graph in Punjab has declined since Raja Warring was reappointed as state president. Why was action taken only against me? I was not even issued a show-cause notice," he said.

Meanwhile, Warring defended the party’s action while addressing Congress workers in Patiala at an event attended by Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel. He said Jalalpur’s suspension was not recent and had been imposed earlier over alleged objectionable remarks directed at the party’s central leadership, including Congress general secretary KC Venugopal.

The day’s events underscored the existence of multiple power centres within the Punjab Congress. While Warring and Baghel appeared together at the official party programme in Patiala, Channi’s meeting with Jalalpur was attended by several senior leaders, including Patiala MP Dharamvira Gandhi and former minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu.

Notably, both Gandhi and Ashu stayed away from Warring’s event, adding to speculation about growing factionalism within the state unit.

The situation became more uncomfortable for the state leadership later in the day when Congress workers raised slogans against Warring during a party function in Samana.

The latest flashpoint comes even as the Congress high command has been trying to bridge differences within the Punjab unit. Instead, dissent appears to be intensifying, with disgruntled leaders increasingly airing their grievances publicly.

With the Punjab Assembly elections approaching, the internal divisions risk undermining the party’s efforts to present a united front against the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government.

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