Even before the resignation of Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as the president of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), speculations were rife as to who would be appointed to the post next.
On the possibility of him being appointed the next Punjab Congress president, Singla had said there was no such issue to his knowledge, news agency ANI reported. With the party leadership expected to announce his successor shortly, two names have emerged as frontrunners for the post – former state minister Vijay Inder Singla and former minister Pargat Singh. Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh is also in the running for the role. However, he added that he had always carried out the responsibilities assigned to him by the party and would continue to do so in the future. Singla is currently the chairperson of the Congress election management and coordination committee. Pargat has been consistent in his criticism of the ruling Aam Aadmi Party in the state and Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann. This triggered retaliation from a rival faction led by Jalandhar MP and former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi.
The turmoil in Congress’s Punjab unit escalated after July 1, when the central leadership initially chose to retain Warring as head of the PPCC.
Former minister and ex-MP Vijay Inder Singla has emerged as the frontrunner for the post ahead of the polls in Punjab, Congress sources said. Amid the reshuffle buzz, former PWD minister Singla had earlier said that he was a “loyal soldier” of the party, and asserted that all party leaders were working together under the leadership of Warring. He has also, in the past, claimed a political collusion between AAP and BJP, while accusing the state machinery of turning Punjab into a “police state” to suppress dissent, according to ANI. Earlier reporting noted: Warring steps down as Punjab Congress chief, updates social media bio Chandigarh: Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Thursday updated his bio on social media platform X to describe himself as the “former president, Punjab Congress”, signalling his exit from the post of Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president amid persistent infighting in the state unit. Earlier reporting noted: Warring, the Ludhiana MP, submitted his resignation to the party high command after being informed of its decision to replace him, Congress sources said.
Earlier reporting noted: The leadership is expected to announce his successor shortly, with former state minister Vijay Inder Singla emerging as the frontrunner along with former minister Pargat Singh.
The appointment would be a significant one, owing to the upcoming Assembly elections in Punjab, expected to held in February next year.
Warring submitted his resignation to the party high command after being informed of its decision to replace him, Congress sources said, according to an earlier HT report .
