Congress replaces Punjab chief with former hockey captain Pargat Singh

The Congress has replaced Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as president of its Punjab unit and appointed former Indian hockey captain Pargat Singh to lead the State organisation. The change takes effect months before the 2027 Assembly elections and follows prolonged factional tensions involving Warring, former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and other State leaders. Before the appointment, Warring told PTI, “Channi Sahib has won,” indicating that he viewed the decision as a victory for Channi’s camp.

Warring said he had voluntarily resigned after concluding that the situation had reached a critical point, while adding that he believed Punjab in-charge Sachin Pilot wanted him replaced. Warring said nobody had formally asked him to resign. He had led the Punjab Congress since 2022 and met Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi before submitting his resignation.

Pargat Singh is a legislator from Jalandhar Cantonment and a former Olympian and India hockey captain. He joined the Congress after leaving the Shiromani Akali Dal and served as a minister in Channi’s government, handling education, sports and youth affairs and NRI affairs. The appointment gives the party a leader with electoral and administrative experience, but it does not automatically end the State unit’s internal tensions.

Warring’s departure followed months of demands for a leadership change from the Channi camp. Pilot was appointed Punjab Congress in-charge in September, replacing Bhupesh Baghel. His role in the leadership transition is now under scrutiny, although the Congress has not publicly said that he ordered Warring’s resignation.

Senior Congress leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said party leaders, including himself and Warring, shared responsibility for the circumstances that produced the change. The new leadership must now consolidate the organisation and prepare for the 2027 election.