CHANDIGARH: Political temperatures within the Congress in Punjab appear to be rising after Advocate Harnoor Singh took a swipe at former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, suggesting that the party had exaggerated his political stature despite his electoral setbacks.
In a social media post, Advocate Harnoor Singh wrote in Punjabi, “ਘਰ ਘਰ ਦੇ ਵਿੱਚ ਚੱਲੀ ਗੱਲ, ਚੰਨੀ ਲੜ ਪਿਆ ਘਰਦਿਆ ਨਾਲ” (loosely translated: “People everywhere are saying Channi has started fighting with his own family”), implying that internal differences within the Congress are becoming increasingly visible.
He further alleged that the Congress transformed “a molehill into a mountain” by projecting Channi as a major political force despite his defeat from both assembly constituencies he contested in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections. Harnoor Singh also claimed that Channi remained largely absent from Punjab politics for nearly two years after the elections before re-emerging on the political scene.
According to the post, with the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections approaching, Channi has begun asserting himself politically, a move that Harnoor Singh characterized as a challenge to the party leadership that had previously backed him.
The remarks come at a time when political observers are closely watching developments within the Punjab Congress, where differences among senior leaders have surfaced periodically over strategy, leadership, and the party’s direction ahead of the next electoral battle.
While Channi has not publicly responded to Harnoor Singh’s comments, political analysts note that any perception of internal discord could become a significant issue for the Congress as it attempts to strengthen its position against the ruling government and other opposition parties before the 2027 elections.
The comments reflect the increasingly sharp political rhetoric that is expected to intensify as Punjab’s political parties begin positioning themselves for the upcoming assembly elections. Whether these exchanges translate into a broader leadership tussle within the Congress remains to be seen.