Punjab Congress rift deepens as MP Sukhjinder Randhawa meets Amit Shah amid internal rebellion

Internal friction within Punjab Congress escalated as MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa met Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Concurrently, former CM Charanjit Channi held a parallel meeting of disgruntled leaders, drawing sharp taunts from Union Minister Ravneet Bittu

New Delhi: Amid dissent and infighting among Congressmen after the revamp of Punjab’s organisation ahead of Assembly elections, party MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Friday called on Union Home Minister Amit Shah here.

However, he clarified on X that the meeting was pre-scheduled in connection with his representation on the deteriorating law and order in the state.

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“About two months ago, on June 4, 2026, I wrote to the Prime Minister and sent a copy to the Home Minister, raising concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in Punjab,” Randhawa told the media after meeting Home Minister Shah.

Replying to a media query on former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, who was the frontrunner for the party’s state top post, calling a meeting of party leaders, Randhawa replied, “This situation should not have arisen. So many meetings (regarding revamp of the organisation) have taken place, yet the lack of satisfaction is a sorrowful matter.”

Randhawa said he submitted a memorandum to Home Minister Shah, demanding action against the spike in gangster-related incidents in Gurdaspur and other border areas, which were discussed in detail at the meeting.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu took a swipe at Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, recalling a famous scene from Sholay. Drawing a parallel with Asrani’s iconic jailor, whose entire contingent marches away with commands of “right, left” while he is left standing alone, Ravneet Singh said a similar situation has unfolded in the Punjab Congress with Raja Warring retained on the top post.

He said almost Raja Warring’s entire team has drifted towards Charanjit Channi, leaving the state Congress chief isolated.

In a tongue-in-cheek remark, Bittu advised Warring to stop resisting the inevitable, join the “Channi wagon”, and head to Channi’s residence along with the rest of his colleagues.

The meeting called by Channi saw the participation of several senior Congress leaders, former ministers, former MLAs and sitting legislators. Those present included former Deputy Chief Minister O.P. Soni, former ministers Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa, Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, Gurpreet Singh Kangar, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, and Gurkirat Singh Kotli. Former MP Mohammad Sadiq also attended the meeting.

A day earlier, three-time Congress Member of Parliament Manish Tewari said he was left in the cold as the party appointed new working presidents and poll panels for Punjab.

“Wish I had an antidote for the insecurities of individuals and institutions! Having said that @INCIndia has given me enough over the past 45 years and I have also devoted my entire adult life in the service of the Indian National Congress over the decades,” the former Union Minister of Information and Broadcasting wrote on X in a cryptic post after being sidelined.

“Que sera, sera, Whatever will be, will be…” he added.

Out of the seven Congress MPs from Punjab, six have been assigned election-related roles for the Punjab elections