Congress leaders huddled in New Delhi on Thursday, grappling with simmering internal disputes in Punjab and weighing a cabinet reshuffle in Himachal Pradesh. The high-stakes meetings, held at party president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence, saw Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and general secretary K.C. Venugopal diving into the party’s most pressing organizational challenges.

Key facts

  • Meetings held September 3, 2026 at Kharge’s residence
  • Punjab elections scheduled for early next year
  • Bhupesh Baghel held separate meetings with Punjab leaders
  • Himachal CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu attended discussions

Punjab’s Factional Fire

The leadership tussle in Punjab has become a thorn in the party’s side, particularly with elections looming early next year. At the heart of the tension stands former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, a prominent Dalit leader who has openly expressed displeasure over what he sees as inadequate representation for Scheduled Castes—Punjab’s largest electoral group.

Channi’s frustration stems from not being named PCC chief or the party’s chief ministerial face ahead of the previous Punjab polls. His supporters have rallied behind him, creating visible fractures within the state unit.

A Path to Reconciliation

Interestingly, the party’s aggressive stance on the shuddhikaran incident in BJP-ruled Uttarakhand might offer a way forward. Rahul Gandhi’s description of the practice as “the practice of untouchability” resonates deeply with Dalit communities—and could help pacify Channi.

Sources indicate the party is likely to urge him to spearhead campaign efforts in Punjab, a move that would acknowledge his influence while attempting to unify the faction-ridden unit.

Himachal and Beyond

In a separate meeting, Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and the Pradesh Congress Committee chief discussed a possible Cabinet reshuffle. No details emerged, but the talks signal the party’s effort to strengthen its governance and electoral strategy in the state.

Meanwhile, AICC general secretary Bhupesh Baghel held a series of meetings with Punjab leaders including Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, and Partap Singh Bajwa. K.C. Venugopal also met Chandigarh leaders to discuss the Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan, a grassroots organizational strengthening program.

The clock is ticking. With Rahul Gandhi’s proposed yatra waiting in the wings, the Congress must quickly mend its fences in Punjab—or risk entering another election season divided.