The internal rift within the Punjab Congress unit took a new turn as Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa chose to skip a meeting of dissident leaders and instead joined state party chief Amarinder Raja Warring to welcome newly appointed Punjab Congress in-charge Bhupesh Baghel at the Mohali airport.
According to The Tribune, Bajwa's move is seen as a clear indication that he is toeing a middle line aligned with the party high command, even as dissident leaders had earlier closed ranks to oppose Warring as the state unit chief.
Bajwa Skips Dissident Meeting, Joins Warring at Airport
The dissident leaders' meeting was held earlier in the day in Mohali. Bajwa was conspicuously absent from that gathering. Instead, he was seen alongside Warring giving what sources described as an "unusual" rousing welcome to Baghel at the Mohali airport.
Apart from Bajwa, senior leaders OP Soni, Harry Mann, and Vikram Chaudhary were present at the airport to receive Baghel. The rest of the senior state leadership opposed to Warring was notably absent from the welcome.
Signals of a Middle Path
Party insiders noted that Bajwa's decision to skip the dissident meet and appear with Warring sends a strong signal. It suggests that despite earlier speculation about his position, Bajwa is choosing to work within the framework set by the Congress high command rather than joining the faction opposing Warring.
Interestingly, OP Soni — who was present at the airport welcome — had also attended the 'show-of-strength' meeting held at former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi's Morinda residence last Friday, according to The Tribune. This dual attendance suggests a complex web of loyalties within the state unit.
Dissident Leaders Close Ranks Against Warring
The backdrop to this development is the growing opposition among senior Punjab Congress leaders against Amarinder Raja Warring's leadership as the state unit chief. Hours before Bajwa's airport appearance, dissident leaders had held a meeting to consolidate their position against Warring.
Warring's supporters, meanwhile, raised slogans at the airport, showing their backing for the state party chief in the presence of the new in-charge, Bhupesh Baghel.
Our Take: A Calculated Move in a Divided House
Partap Bajwa's decision to skip the dissident meet and welcome Baghel alongside Warring is a calculated political move. It shows he understands that the Congress high command holds the keys to power and patronage. By aligning publicly with Warring and Baghel, Bajwa is signaling that he does not want to be boxed into the dissident camp.
However, this does not mean the rift is healing. The absence of other senior leaders from the airport welcome shows that the divide within the Punjab Congress remains deep. The coming days will test whether Baghel can bridge the gap or whether the factionalism will only grow sharper.