Former Captain of the Indian Hockey Team, MLA from Jalandhar Cantt and Former Education and Sports Minister of Punjab, Pargat Singh might soon be given the charge of Congress state president. If reports are to believed then he might also be entrusted with the post of election in-charge as well. High command is also discussing his potential as the Leader of the Opposition in Punjab's Legislative Assembly.
Party sources reveal that as the Vidhan Sabha elections of Punjab are approaching, the Congress party high command is figuring out a road map. Considering the party’s performance in the past few elections in the state the high command is considering all the possible changes that could salvage the party in the upcoming polls.
Although the party’s performance in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was considerably good, its grip on Punjab seems to be fading away slowly. For instance, in the recent by-elections of 2025 for Tarn Taran seat in the Lok Sabha, the party’s performance turned out be extremely poor. Congress had fielded Karanbir Singh Burj for the polls who came at the fourth spot. AAP leader Harmeet Singh Sandhu won by a margin of over 12,000 votes against Sukhwinder Kaur of the SAD, according to Election Commission of India (ECI) data. An independent candidate Mandeep Singh was in the third spot, leaving Congress at the fourth spot subsequently.
It is being observed that one of the reasons for party’s such poor performance is the internal rift within the party. The party has been divided into different factions that is causing a major blow to the party’s unity and policy framework. Reportedly, the party is divided into different groups among different leaders, with prominent names like Raja Warring, Partap Bajwa and Charanjit Singh Channi ruling small factions of their designated sub-groups. With the party occupied in its internal rifts, they are unable to gain momentum in the state and deliver a good performance.
During a campaign speech in Tarn Taran, that were being looked upon as a crucial by-election that took place on November 11, the party state president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring made some remarks about Sardar Buta Singh who was India’s Union home minister and among the most-powerful Dalit politicians of Punjab. The remarks didn’t go well and caused a lot of uproar. It is believed that this was one of the major reasons why Tarn Taran by polls slipped away from Congress party’s grip.
Inside sources reveal that the party’s high command has a good impression of Pargat Singh and his political performance. This might work in the favor of him and land him a big role in the party in the coming 2-3 months.
