Hans News Service Chandigarh

SeniorCongress leader Pargat Singh on Thursday said he and other party leaders would meet Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel to present their views, days after the latter began his five-day visit to the state, even as several leaders considered close to former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi are yet to meet him.

Pargat Singh and senior leader and MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa asserted that the Congress was “united and strong”, sayingthe party’s larger objective was to return to power after the 2027 Assembly polls.

Pargat Singh, however, acknowledged that some “differences of opinion” existed and said these would be conveyed to Baghel. “One or two (leaders) have been authorised to talk. Baghel is our in-charge and the meeting will take place with him. Sukhjinder Randhawa ji will fix the meeting time with him,” he said. Earlier in the day, senior Congress leader and MLA Rana Gurjit Singh dismissed reports of factionalism, asserting that no one was above the party high command. “No one is above the high command,” Singh told reporters here when asked about Channi and senior leaders, including himself, Randhawa, Bharat Bhushan Ashu, and some others, who are yet to meet Baghel. On Thursday, Channi, Randhawa, Pargat Singh, Ashu, and Gurkirat Singh met at MLA Rana Gurjit’s residence here. However, Rana said they had all cometo meet him on a civic poll-related issue in Kapurthala.

Later, Pargat, Randhawa, and Rana briefly interacted with the media. Baghel has been holding a series of meetings here with party leaders in the run-up to the 2027 polls after his arrival here on Monday on a five-day visit. On July 1, the Congress announced that Amrinder Singh Raja Warring would continue as the Punjab unit president and appointed Channi as chairperson of the campaign committee. Several senior leaders held a meeting in Mohali in Channi’s presence on Monday, days after several incumbent and former MLAs threw their weight behind him to be reconsidered for the state unit chief’s post. Replying to a question, Rana Gurjit tried to portray that “All is Well” in Punjab Congress. When asked whetherthe perceived deadlock in the party would end, he replied, “Where is the deadlock? All is well”.