27 October 2026 (Navroze Bureau) Congress general secretary (organisation) K. C. Venugopal has backed newly appointed Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Pargat Singh and warned party leaders against indiscipline, factionalism and actions that could harm the organisation’s interests ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
During a series of meetings with senior leaders and party functionaries at Punjab Congress Bhawan in Chandigarh on Monday, Venugopal emphasised the need for unity and coordinated work across the state unit. His visit came amid efforts by the Congress high command to bring different groups within the Punjab Congress together following a period of public disagreements over leadership.
Pargat Singh was appointed Punjab Congress president on October 2, replacing Amrinder Singh Raja Warring. The leadership change came as the party began preparing for the next Assembly elections and sought to strengthen its organisation at the state and district levels.
High command stresses unity and discipline
Venugopal held discussions with senior leaders, sitting and former legislators, MPs and district Congress committee presidents. The meetings were aimed at reviewing the party’s organisational preparedness and establishing a coordinated approach to its political activities in the coming months.
The Congress general secretary made it clear that differences of opinion were natural in a democratic organisation, but leaders were expected to put aside their disagreements when working for the party. He stressed that internal disputes should not undermine collective efforts or the interests of the organisation.
To reinforce the message of unity, several senior leaders were seen together during the meetings and related engagements. Those present included Pargat Singh, former Punjab Congress president Raja Warring, former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Punjab Assembly Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Vijay Inder Singla.
The gathering was intended to demonstrate coordination among leaders who have been associated with different groups within the state unit. Venugopal also underlined the importance of assigning meaningful responsibilities to senior leaders rather than allowing the leadership transition to create further divisions.
Pargat Singh receives backing
Venugopal’s public support for Pargat Singh comes at a crucial stage for the new state Congress chief, who faces the task of bringing the organisation together before the Assembly elections.
Pargat, a former Indian hockey captain and MLA from Jalandhar Cantonment, took over the state unit after Warring’s resignation and subsequent leadership change. His appointment followed weeks of internal differences over the party’s leadership and electoral preparations.
The high command’s message indicates that the new president is expected to work with all senior leaders while strengthening coordination among district units and grassroots workers.
Venugopal also highlighted the importance of the roles assigned to Channi, Bajwa, Warring and other senior figures. In particular, he said Channi, as chairperson of the party’s Campaign Committee, had an important responsibility in the run-up to the elections. The emphasis on different leaders’ roles was part of an effort to encourage collective participation rather than competition over organisational positions.
District presidents told to deliver results
The party leadership also issued a clear message to district Congress committee presidents regarding their responsibilities. According to a senior leader who attended the meetings, district presidents selected through the Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan were told that they would be expected to perform or risk removal.
The message placed the focus on organisational performance, local-level coordination and the ability to mobilise party workers. District units are expected to play an important role in strengthening the Congress’s presence across constituencies as preparations for the 2027 elections gather pace.
The high command is also monitoring the conduct and activities of state leaders to prevent internal disagreements from affecting the party’s campaign.
Rahul Gandhi’s Sangrur rally on November 4
Venugopal also reviewed preparations for Rahul Gandhi’s proposed rally in Sangrur on November 4. The Congress plans to use the event to begin a major phase of its campaign ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
The party is aiming to mobilise a large gathering for the rally, with a target of nearly one lakh people, according to reports. Venugopal said the event would focus on the party’s vision for Punjab, including peace, security and tackling the drug problem.
Sangrur is politically significant because of its association with the Aam Aadmi Party. The Congress intends to use the rally to demonstrate its organisational strength and communicate its political agenda to voters.
The event is also expected to serve as an early test of coordination between the state leadership, district units and the party’s central leadership.
Congress prepares for 2027 elections
The latest meetings reflect the Congress high command’s efforts to manage internal differences while preparing for a competitive election campaign in Punjab. The party has been seeking to improve coordination among its senior leaders and establish a more unified organisational structure.
Venugopal’s message was that differences could exist within the party, but they should not become an obstacle to collective political work. The emphasis on discipline, defined responsibilities and grassroots performance suggests that the high command wants leaders to focus on organisation-building rather than public disagreements.
Whether the current show of unity translates into sustained coordination will become clearer as the party begins its campaign activities and prepares for decisions on candidates, constituency-level strategy and election mobilisation.
For now, the Congress leadership has reiterated that Pargat Singh and other senior leaders will need to work together as the party prepares for the 2027 Assembly elections.