Punjab Congress warns of sleeper cells as rift with former chief minister deepens

Tensions within Punjab’s Congress have erupted into a public dispute, leading the party to warn of “sleeper cells” and possible sanctions. The alert came after state president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring confronted former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, who voiced discontent after being passed over for the state party chief position in the July 1 organisational reshuffle. Warring alleged that senior leader Jakhar was secretly cooperating with the BJP despite heading the Congress campaign committee, and unnamed officials, including Baghel, targeted dissidents aligned with Channi.

Former minister Razia Sultana urged the high command to act decisively against indiscipline, warning that inaction could harm the party’s standing. The feud echoes earlier internal battles that surfaced in 2022 when the Congress chose Channi over Captain Amarinder Singh and Navjot Singh Sidhu. Rahul Gandhi had appointed Warring as state chief after the party’s 2022 electoral loss. The ongoing infighting threatens to weaken Congress’s prospects ahead of upcoming elections in Punjab.