Punjab Congress appears to have discovered a fascinating new way of preparing for the 2027 Assembly elections: fight with your own colleagues first, and worry about the opposition later.The election is approaching, but the biggest battle in the Punjab Congress right now does not appear to be against the AAP, BJP or SAD. It is happening inside the Congress itself. The party’s organisational meetings have recently been overshadowed by factional clashes, rival slogans and even “Baghel Go Back” protests.One has to admire the efficiency. Other political parties are busy preparing booths. Punjab Congress leaders seem busy preparing blame booths.
The Congress has launched the slogan “Har Booth, Congress Mazboot.” Unfortunately, some recent scenes have created a slightly different impression: “Har Leader, Apna Group Mazboot.” The party says it wants to strengthen every booth, while its leaders sometimes appear determined to weaken every meeting.And then comes the great question: Who will lead the Congress campaign? Charanjit Singh Channi has been appointed campaign committee chairman, while Amarinder Singh Raja Warring continues as state Congress president. Other senior leaders have their own influence, supporters and political ambitions.
Punjab voters watching all this must be wondering: “Are we going to vote for a government in 2027, or are we going to attend the Congress leadership selection meeting?”The comedy becomes even better when Congress leaders publicly attack the Bhagwant Mann government and predict that AAP will lose power, while their own house is still struggling to decide who should stand at the front door. Warring has been attacking the Mann government and predicting political trouble for AAP. But political speeches alone do not win elections; organisation, unity, credible leadership and a clear Punjab agenda do.
The Congress cannot expect Punjab voters to be impressed simply because its leaders are excellent at predicting the defeat of their opponents. The real question is: Can they prevent defeating themselves first?There is also a lesson in timing. BJP has already begun making organisational appointments for the 2027 Punjab battle, signalling that other parties are thinking about election machinery and campaign command.
Meanwhile, sections of the Punjab Congress appear trapped in the ancient political tradition of “You first apologise, then I will become united.”One faction says it deserves greater recognition. Another says the leadership is unfair. Someone wants a bigger role. Someone wants a different face. Someone wants a different ticket formula. And the voter sitting outside is probably saying: “Gentlemen, can we please discuss Punjab?”
The most dangerous thing for Congress is not criticism from AAP or BJP. It is voter indifference. If people begin to believe that Congress leaders are more interested in settling internal scores than presenting a serious alternative government, then the party’s election campaign could become a political comedy show without a laughing audience.Punjab needs an opposition that is serious, organised and capable of presenting a credible alternative. It needs leaders who can talk about jobs, drugs, law and order, agriculture, industry, debt, education, migration, investment and the future of Punjab—not merely about who stood beside whom at a party meeting.
Congress leaders still have time to change the script. But the clock is ticking.2027 is not a rehearsal. It is an election.The voters will not ask who won the internal Congress meeting. They will ask a much simpler question:
“If you cannot run your own party peacefully, why should Punjab trust you to run the state?”
And perhaps the Punjab Congress should seriously consider changing its election slogan.Instead of “Har Booth, Congress Mazboot,” maybe the immediate requirement is: “Har Leader, Pehlaan Ekjut!”Because before Congress can defeat AAP in 2027, it may first have to defeat its oldest and most stubborn opponent:
Congress vs Congress.