The political temperature in Punjab has reached a boiling point as factional feuds within the state Congress unit break wide open ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. In a major development, former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi is scheduled to hold a high-stakes, face-to-face meeting with Congress General Secretary and state in-charge Bhupesh Baghel in Chandigarh on Friday, July 10, 2026. This emergency meeting, ordered directly by the party's high command, comes amid a massive organizational rebellion led by Channi, who is aggressively pushing to reverse top-level leadership appointments in the state.Channi Rallies Supporters: Claims Victory Impossible Under Current State LeadershipAccording to highly placed political insiders, Charanjit Singh Channi has been actively mobilizing his loyalists and building pressure on the high command. The former Chief Minister has reportedly made it clear that reviving the party's fortunes and winning the next election will be an uphill task under the current leadership of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring (Raja Brar). Sources close to the Channi camp strongly argue that an immediate overhaul of the state leadership is mandatory to inject fresh momentum, clear internal friction, and create a highly favorable political atmosphere for the Congress cadre across Punjab's key constituencies.'Not a Game of Dolls': In-Charge Bhupesh Baghel Talks Tough Amid Internal RebellionAs the Channi faction intensifies its campaign to unseat the current president, state in-charge Bhupesh Baghel has taken a firm stance. Addressing the growing restlessness, Baghel bluntly indicated that altering crucial organizational positions on a whim is not a trivial affair or a "game of dolls." The leadership wants to project absolute stability, and the high command is reportedly resistant to bowing down to factional ultimatums. The Friday meeting is being seen as a critical battleground where the party leadership will attempt to pacify Channi while maintaining organizational discipline.High Command Denies Factionalism: Claims Total Consensus Among Top LeadersDespite the obvious internal rift playing out in public, state in-charge Bhupesh Baghel has officially dismissed all speculation of a civil war within the rank and file. Baghel maintained that the Punjab Congress remains completely unified and is working actively under the current leadership framework. He stated that the central leadership is in continuous communication with senior leaders, including Charanjit Singh Channi and former Deputy CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. Baghel highlighted that recent state committee and district president meetings successfully reached a consensus on prioritizing organizational strength over individual differences, a claim that will be severely tested as Channi and Baghel sit down for their crucial showdown.
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