WHERE THE PARTY STANDS
WHAT WORKS
As Punjab is witnessing a multi-cornered contest, the Congress is banking on division of votes. The party hopes to cash in on the split between the SAD and BJP, particularly in the Doaba and Majha regions. The Congress has a fair share of vote bank in both rural and urban pockets of the state. The party has pitted PPCC chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, former CM Charanjit Channi, former deputy CM Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, and other prominent leaders to bolster its chances. The party is also banking on farmers’ support, who are up in arms against the Narendra Modi government.
WHAT DOESN’T
The party suffered a series of setbacks as its prominent leaders, including sitting MPs Preneet Kaur and Ravneet Bittu shifted to the BJP, while deputy leader of opposition Raj Kumar Chabbewal and some former MLAs joined the Aam Aadmi Party. Besides, former PCC president Sunil Jakhar also jumped the ship to the BJP. Of the eight MPs elected in 2019, one (Santokh Chaudhary) died, two (Jasbir Dimpa and Mohammad Sadique) have been denied tickets, two (Bittu and Preneet) have shifted to the BJP, while Manish Tewari has been fielded from Chandigarh. This has forced the party to field new faces on these seats and it also shifted some leaders from their strongholds. Infighting and absence of a tall leader are major challenges that the Congress faces in Punjab.
WHAT ARE THEY UP AGAINST
The party is considering the ruling Aam Aadmi Party as its main rival in Punjab. The party is raking up issues of law and order, drugs and sacrilege to corner the AAP. The Congress has also been accusing that the government in Punjab is being run by the AAP leadership in Delhi.
WHAT NEXT
It will be a much-needed booster for the Congress if it performs well in the Lok Sabha elections in Punjab. It may revive the grand old party and prepare it for giving a direct fight to the AAP in the 2027 state polls. However, a defeat will further escalate the crisis in the party, and it may lead to more defections, beside the usual power tussle.