A few days back Congress High Command appointed former Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel as the party's in-charge in Punjab. Last Friday, Bhupesh Baghel was appointed as the AICC general secretary in charge of Punjab. The change in leadership by the Congress came after the party could not win even a single seat in the Delhi Elections 2025. Appointing new leadership in Punjab hints that the grand old party is now eyeing to secure the Punjab Assembly Election that is due in 2027. As a result, the High Command may appoint a new President of PPCC i.e. Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee is currently headed by Amarinder Raja Warring who is now an MP from Ludhiana constituency.
As per sources in the known development, there are a few names in Punjab that the Congress may think to give them a big responsibility like Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President. Continue reading below to know who are in the race-
1) Pargat Singh
MLA from Jalandhar Cantt, Pargat Singh is a seasoned Congress leader who is also a Padma Shri & Arjuna awardee. Pargat Singh comes from the Doaba region and stays away from controversy making him a perfect candidate to lead Congress in Punjab as PPCC Chief. Pargat Singh has also been a Minister in the past and Doaba is considered a stronghold of the Congress party. He is a former Indian Hockey Player who has also served as an SP before joining politics. Hence, Pargat Singh has a strong knowledge on what's happening on the ground and about the nerves of the people. Also, being a former security official, Pargat Singh can address law and order issues and come up with strategies that can help Congress in the long run.
2) Rana Gurjeet Singh
Termed as richest Punjab leader of the Congress party, Rana Gurjeet Singh recently grabbed headlines after the Income Tax Department conducted raids at his premises. Kapurthala MLA, Rana Gurjeet Singh has been a former Cabinet Minister in the Government of Punjab. Rana Gurjeet Singh has also been an MP of Jalandhar from 2004 to 2009. Rana Gurjeet Singh owns distilleries and sugar mills in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.
3) Charanjit Singh Channi
Former Punjab CM Charanjit Singh Channi is said to be close to the Congress High Command. Jalandhar MP Channi can also be given a leadership in the PPPC. Charanjit Singh Channi is a big Dalit face of the Congress party in Punjab.
4) Amarinder Singh Raja Warring
Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, who is currently the PPCC President can also throw his hat into the leadership of the party. Amarinder Singh Raja Warring won the Lok Sabha Elections 2024 from Ludhiana defeating Ravneet Bittu. However, Amarinder Singh Raja Warring's wife lost the Bye-election from Giderbha. Also, the Congress party lost the MC election in multiple municipal corporations in Punjab. Hence, it is possible that Congress may look for other candidates for the PPCC Chief post.
5) Pratap Bajwa
Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Punjab Assembly, Pratap Bajwa can also secure the top post in PPCC. Pratap Bajwa recently maintained that many AAP MLAs are in his contact and are ready to jump ships. However, CM Bhagwat Mann shunned all the claims made by Pratap Bajwa.
6) Bharat Bhushan Ashu
Although Bharat Bhushan Ashu is linked to food grain transportation and tender allotment scams & other corruption allegations, Congress may also look at him as a potential PPCC presidential candidate. Two-time MLA representing the Ludhiana West Assembly, Ashu has previously served as Cabinet Minister of Food, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs, Government of Punjab.
7) Vijay Inder Singla
Former Lok Sabha MP from Sangrur, Vijay Inder Singla's name can also be preferred for the PPCC President post as he is a big Hindu face in Punjab. Vijay Inder Singla is currently serving as Treasurer & Spokesperson at AICC. He is also a former Lok Sabha MP from Sangrur. Vijay Inder Singla has previously served as Cabinet Minister of Education, IT & PWD in the Government of Punjab.