CHANDIGARH: Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Thursday changed his X bio to “former PPCC chief”, amid reports that the party high command has decided to replace him ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Former Sangrur MP Vijay Inder Singla is emerging as the frontrunner to replace Warring, according to party sources. Other names being discussed include former Olympian and Jalandhar Cantonment MLA Pargat Singh, former MLA Rana KP Singh, Raja Sansi MLA Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa.
The leadership change comes after months of infighting in the Punjab Congress. Warring had earlier declined to comment on reports that the party high command had decided to replace him, saying that “some issues are internal”.
The high command had decided to retain Warring as the state unit chief on July 1, but the leadership issue resurfaced after Sachin Pilot was appointed Congress general secretary in charge of Punjab, replacing Bhupesh Baghel. A section of leaders led by Channi had opposed Warring’s continuation and sought his removal.
Leaders aligned with the Channi camp also stayed away from some party programmes led by Warring.
Sources said Pilot held a series of meetings with state leaders before submitting his report to the party high command on the proposed leadership change. The high command subsequently informed Warring of its decision.
Singla, a member of the Congress Working Committee and joint treasurer of the AICC, is a former Punjab minister who held the Education, PWD and IT portfolios. He is also considered a close confidant of Rahul Gandhi, according to party sources.
Sources said the Congress was looking to appoint a leader who could bring different factions together ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
Warring, former CM Channi, former Deputy CM Sukhjinder Randhawa and Gurjeet Aujla are all sitting Lok Sabha MPs, while Singla is not an MP.