26 October 2026 (Navroze Bureau) Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to visit Sangrur on November 4 to launch the party’s campaign for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. The visit is expected to mark a fresh phase in the Punjab Congress’s political and organisational preparations as it seeks to strengthen its presence across the state.
Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Pargat Singh announced the visit on October 25, describing it as an important step towards building momentum for the party’s ‘Mission 2027’ campaign. He said the programme would help bring party leaders and workers together and strengthen the Congress’s outreach among people across Punjab.
Sangrur has been chosen as the starting point because of its location in the Malwa region, which plays a significant role in Punjab’s electoral politics. The district is also the home turf of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, adding political significance to the planned visit.
According to party leaders, Rahul Gandhi’s programme will focus on strengthening the organisation at the grassroots level and raising issues affecting the people of Punjab. The Congress is preparing to intensify its activities ahead of the Assembly elections expected in early 2027.
Pargat Singh said the party would concentrate on mobilising workers, improving coordination among leaders and maintaining regular engagement with the public. He emphasised that local concerns would remain central to the Congress’s campaign strategy.
Drug Menace and Law and Order Likely to Feature
The drug problem in Punjab is expected to be among the major issues raised during the Congress campaign. The party has increasingly focused on drug-related deaths, public safety and allegations of failures in controlling drug trafficking.
Recent incidents involving anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhota in Mansa have added to the political debate around the issue. According to reports, Congress leaders are considering a possible visit by Rahul Gandhi to Jhota’s family during his Punjab trip, although the programme has not been confirmed.
The Congress is also expected to raise concerns about law and order, gangster-related violence, farmers’ issues and employment opportunities for young people. These issues are likely to form part of the party’s broader outreach ahead of the Assembly polls.
The planned campaign comes amid increased political activity in Punjab, with parties beginning to organise their state-level strategies and mobilise workers well ahead of the election season.
Senior Leaders Review Election Preparations
Congress general secretary KC Venugopal arrived in Chandigarh on October 25 to review preparations for Rahul Gandhi’s visit and discuss the party’s election strategy with Punjab leaders. Meetings with state office-bearers, district Congress presidents and other senior functionaries were scheduled for October 26.
Punjab Congress leaders, including Pargat Singh, Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly Partap Singh Bajwa, and party affairs in-charge Sachin Pilot, are involved in preparations for the upcoming campaign.
The discussions are expected to cover organisational coordination, responsibilities for senior leaders and plans to strengthen the party’s presence across the state. The leadership is also working to ensure that district-level units remain active and connected with local communities.
Rahul Gandhi’s visit will be his first to Punjab since Pargat Singh took over as state Congress president, according to reports. The leadership change has been followed by efforts to improve coordination within the state unit and prepare for the 2027 electoral contest.
Congress Plans Wider Outreach Across Punjab
Apart from the Sangrur programme, the Congress is planning a broader public outreach campaign through cycle yatras across the Malwa, Majha and Doaba regions. Party leaders have said these programmes will focus on issues including public safety, drug-related deaths, gangster violence and other concerns raised by residents.
The proposed yatras are expected to begin in November and provide party leaders with opportunities to interact directly with people in different parts of the state. The initiative is intended to complement rallies and organisational meetings with local outreach.
Malwa remains a major focus of the Congress strategy because of its importance in the state’s electoral landscape. In the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, the Aam Aadmi Party won all five Assembly constituencies in Sangrur district, including Dhuri, from where Bhagwant Mann was elected.
The Congress has identified the need to strengthen its organisation and public engagement as key priorities before the next election. Its campaign will seek to raise local concerns while presenting its political agenda to voters.
With Rahul Gandhi’s scheduled visit on November 4, the Punjab Congress is preparing to step up its political activities under the ‘Mission 2027’ banner. The event is expected to set the direction for the party’s campaign in the months leading up to the Assembly elections.