Top Congress leaders discuss Punjab factionalism, possible Cabinet reshuffle in Himachal Pradesh

Sources said AICC general secretary in-charge of Punjab Bhupesh Baghel held a series of meetings on Thursday, September 3, 2026, with Punjab leaders. File | Photo Credit: PTI The top leadership of the Congress, including the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and general secretary (organisation) K.C. Venugopal, is said to have discussed the leadership tussle within the party in Punjab at a meeting at party president Mallikarjun Kharge’s official residence.In a separate meeting, the top leaders also met Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and the Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief to discuss a possible Cabinet reshuffle in the State.There was no official word on the details of the meeting on Punjab, but it comes ahead of a proposed political yatra by Mr. Gandhi in the State, where elections are scheduled to be held early next year.The dates for the yatra are likely to be finalised once the Congress resolves the intense factionalism in the Punjab unit, led by former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, a prominent Dalit leader.Unhappy leadersUpset at not being made the PCC chief or the Chief Ministerial face before the Punjab polls, Mr. Channi and his supporters had openly expressed displeasure that Scheduled Castes, who make up the highest proportion of Punjab’s electorate, do not get adequate representation.However, the party’s aggressive stance over the shuddhikaran episode in BJP-ruled Uttarakhand and Mr. Gandhi describing it as “the practice of untouchability” may help pacify Mr. Channi. The party is likely to urge him to spearhead the poll ocampaign efforts in the State, sources indicated.In a party rejig in July, the high command made Mr. Channi the chairman of the campaign committee while continuing with Amrinder Singh Raja Warring as the PCC chief. This triggered open factionalism, with senior Jat Sikh leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, who is the AICC in-charge for Rajasthan, openly rebelling against the high command’s decision.Keeping the peaceSources said AICC general secretary in-charge of Punjab Bhupesh Baghel held a series of meetings on Thursday (September 3, 2026) with Punjab leaders, including Mr. Randhawa, Mr. Warring, and the Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa.Separately, Mr. Venugopal met Chandigarh leaders, including Lok Sabha member Manish Tewari and former Union Minister Pawan Bansal, to discuss the Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan, a programme to strengthen the organisation at the grassroot level. Published - September 03, 2026 10:48 pm IST