Chandigarh, October 3: Newly appointed Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Pargat Singh has emphasised teamwork and consensus, saying that the interests of Punjab would remain at the centre of the party’s political approach.
Speaking to reporters after taking charge of the new responsibility, the former Indian hockey captain said he considered himself a “team player” and would work like a full-back, supporting the team from behind. He said the Congress had experienced leaders and “big players”, and decisions would be taken collectively.
Pargat Singh said that a strong team would emerge in the coming days. “We will take all decisions unanimously,” he said, adding that he respected all senior leaders and believed that every leader had an important role to play.
Referring to outgoing Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, Pargat said Warring had worked hard during his tenure and had done good work for the organisation. He described Warring as a member of the same team and said there was no need to view the leadership change as a conflict between individuals.
“The issue is Punjab and not differences amongst us,” Pargat Singh said, underlining that the party’s focus should remain on Punjab rather than internal disagreements. He also indicated that those who had previously been associated with Congress and were willing to contribute to Punjab would be welcome to return.
Pargat Singh’s appointment comes ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly election. Congress appointed him Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president on Friday, replacing Raja Warring, who resigned from the post. The party said its existing working presidents and election-related committee chairpersons would continue in their respective roles.
With his background in international hockey, Pargat repeatedly used the language of sport to describe his political approach. He said every player has a role in a team and indicated that he would give space and responsibility to senior leaders while working collectively.
For Pargat, however, his appointment also coincided with a major moment for Indian hockey. He said the Indian women’s hockey team’s Asian Games gold medal was an especially memorable gift following his appointment. India’s women won hockey gold at the 2026 Asian Games, ending a 44-year wait for the title.
“There cannot be a bigger gift than this,” Pargat said while expressing his happiness over the women’s team’s achievement.The new Punjab Congress chief now faces the task of translating his “team game” philosophy into the organisation’s functioning, with consensus, coordination among senior leaders and Punjab-centric issues forming the central themes of his initial message.