Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, Sep 5: The Congress central leadership has appointed Sachin Pilot as the party’s in-charge for Punjab, replacing former Chhattisgarh chief minister Bhupesh Baghel, in a move aimed at easing factional tensions within the state unit ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
The appointment came as part of a major organisational reshuffle announced on Saturday night. Baghel has been assigned responsibility for Assam.
Pilot, a former deputy chief minister of Rajasthan and Congress general secretary, will face the immediate challenge of bringing together rival factions in the Punjab Congress, which has been publicly divided over its leadership.
The son of late Congress leader Rajesh Pilot, Sachin Pilot has served as a Union minister in the Manmohan Singh government, Rajasthan Congress president and deputy chief minister. He was appointed a national general secretary and given charge of Chhattisgarh in December 2023.
There had been speculation that Pilot could return to head the Rajasthan Congress ahead of the 2028 Assembly elections. His new Punjab assignment, however, is likely to delay any such move as the state prepares for polls due in early 2027.
Pilot’s immediate task in Punjab will be to address the leadership dispute involving senior party leaders. A faction led by former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi has been demanding the removal of Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as Punjab Congress president.
After deliberations, the Congress high command announced on July 1 that Warring would continue as state unit chief, while Channi was given charge of the campaign committee. The decision, however, failed to resolve the differences.
Punjab Congress Legislature Party leader Partap Singh Bajwa, MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and former MP Vijay Inder Singla have also been associated with the faction opposed to Warring.
Baghel, who was appointed Punjab Congress in-charge in February 2025, had backed the continuation of Warring and opposed a change in leadership ahead of the elections. His perceived alignment with Warring drew criticism from the rival faction, with posters targeting Baghel also appearing in parts of Punjab.
The Congress high command has now sought to placate the leaders opposed to Warring by bringing in Pilot.
Channi, Warring and other senior leaders welcomed Pilot’s appointment. Channi thanked the Congress high command for the decision, while Warring welcomed Pilot and also expressed gratitude to Baghel for his guidance.
The key challenge for Pilot, however, will be whether the change in the party’s central leadership can persuade Channi and other dissenting leaders to withdraw their demand for replacing Warring.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is expected to undertake a bus tour across Punjab with senior party leaders, which will provide Pilot with his first major test in the new assignment.
The Congress will also face a strong challenge from the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. A possible alliance between the BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal could further reshape the electoral contest, while other regional forces, including the faction of jailed MP Amritpal Singh, could add to the complexity of the 2027 battle.