No leadership change in Punjab Congress; party to contest polls under Kharge, Rahul, Bhupesh Baghel says
Baghel made this claim after Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge held a meeting with the party’s top brass at Rajaji Marg house number 10 here. Besides Kharge, former party president Rahul Gandhi and Congress general secretary KC Venugopal were also present at the meeting.
“A meeting was held on Punjab a few days ago and a meeting was held today as well, also the Assembly elections are near. There have been serious discussions on the way forward,” Baghel told reporters.
When asked about speculation that a change of guard is being considered in the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee, Baghel said, “I had said a few days ago, there was no discussion on this issue. The Congress is taking everyone with it. We will move forward by taking everyone with us.”
“This is just speculation in the media. There has been no discussion on the leadership… There is no change,” he added.
About Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Baghel said that he is the PCC chief and the upcoming elections in the state will be held under the leadership of Kharge and Gandhi.
He asserted that the state leadership will fight collectively in the polls. Pointing his guns at the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab, Baghel said the main problems hindering the development of the state were law and order, corruption and drugs.
Criticizing the Bhagwant Mann-led government in Punjab, he said, “The party that calls itself the party of ‘kattar imandaar’ (utterly honest) has become the party of ‘kattar beimaan’ (completely dishonest).”
Baghel’s meeting took place a few days after talks on Punjab were held at Kharge’s house in the presence of Gandhi and Venugopal.
After the meeting, Baghel had said that Punjab was a very important state for the Congress as well as for the country and that the party would prepare an action plan and take to the streets “very soon”.
Former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, former deputy chief minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Punjab Congress chief Warring and Vijay Inder Singla attended the meeting.
Punjab will go to polls early next year.
