He succeeds Ludhiana MP Amarainder Singh Raja Warring, who formally submitted his resignation to the party leadership on Friday. Jalandhar: Former Indian hockey captain and three-time Jalandhar Cantonment MLA Pargat Singh has become the fourth leader from the Congress-dominant Doaba region to head the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC).
Pargat’s elevation also strategically anchors the party in the Dalit-dominant Doaba belt. His wife, Barinder Preet Kaur, described his sports background as a key asset for organisational leadership. “My husband has always been a team player. The execution of this strategy will be crucial in Doaba.
His appointment carries regional and political roots: His father-in-law and former Punjab chief minister, Darbara Singh, headed the PPCC for an eight-year tenure starting in 1957. Following the announcement, the 61-year-old Pargat thanked Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, KC Venugopal, and Sachin Pilot on X, pledging to work with total dedication to unite and strengthen the organisation.Pargat captained India at the 1992 and 1996 Olympics. He made his political debut with the Shiromani Akali Dal in 2012 before joining the Congress in 2016, where he previously served as general secretary (organisation) and cabinet minister. During the 2022 assembly elections, despite a statewide Aam Aadmi Party wave, the Congress held its ground in Jalandhar, winning five of the nine segments. Across the broader 23-seat Doaba region, the AAP and Congress were tied at 10 seats each, with the SAD, BSP, and BJP securing one seat each. Earlier reporting noted: Hockey captain to 3-time MLA: Who is Pargat Singh, the new Punjab Congress chief? The Congress on Friday appointed former India hockey captain and Jalandhar Cantonment MLA Pargat Singh (61) as the new president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), replacing Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as the party begins preparations for the Punjab assembly elections due early next year. Warring, who had headed the state unit since April 2022, met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Friday and submitted his resignation.
Other Doaba stalwarts to hold the top post include Mohinder Singh Kaypee (2008–10)—who later joined the Shiromani Akali Dal—and Major General Rajinder Singh “Sparrow,” a two-time Maha Vir Chakra recipient who briefly led the unit in 1985. Whatever he undertakes, he does with total determination, taking everyone along,” she said, adding that the electorate is seeking “badlav” (change).
Earlier reporting noted: The appointment followed days of hectic consultations within the party and came against the backdrop of differences among senior Punjab Congress leaders. Earlier reporting noted: Congress general secretary and Punjab affairs in-charge Sachin Pilot held consultations with senior leaders in the state before submitting his report to the party high command.
