Bhupesh Baghel, the AICC General Secretary in-charge of Punjab, said the Congress party will contest the 2027 [1] assembly elections under a collective leadership.
This strategy aims to stabilize the party's presence in the state as it prepares for the next election cycle. By avoiding reliance on a single figurehead, the party hopes to mitigate internal friction and present a unified front to voters.
Baghel addressed reports of internal strife during meetings with state leaders, including a session reported on July 7 [2]. He said that everything is fine within the Punjab Congress and ruled out any changes to the current state leadership [3].
"There will be no change in the Punjab Congress leadership," Baghel said [3].
The announcement regarding collective leadership was first reported on Jan. 11 [1]. Baghel said the party would not depend on any single face for the 2027 [1] polls, emphasizing a joint approach to governance and campaigning.
Despite these assurances, some reports indicate persistent infighting. While Baghel said that things are stable, other reports suggest that friction remains and that certain leaders, specifically those backing Charanjit Singh Channi, have not met with the General Secretary [2].
Baghel continued to dismiss the notion of turmoil in recent briefings. "सब कुछ ठीक है" (Everything is fine), he said [4].
The party is currently focusing on organizing its cadre and managing local disputes to ensure the joint leadership model can be effectively implemented before the 2027 [1] contest.
“"We will contest the 2027 Punjab elections under a collective leadership of the party."”
The shift toward a collective leadership model suggests the Congress party is struggling to find a single, uncontested leader who can unify various factions in Punjab. By institutionalizing a joint leadership approach, the party is attempting to prevent any one faction from becoming marginalized, which could otherwise lead to further defections or splits ahead of the 2027 elections.
