Punjab poll strategy: No CM candidate, Rahul Gandhi to lead Congress campaign

Bathinda (The Uttam Hindu) – The race to become the Chief Ministerial face in the Congress party for the 2027 assembly elections has stalled even before it began. Congress state in-charge and former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has made it clear that the Congress will not have a CM face.

Bhupesh Baghel, who arrived in Bathinda, stated that Rahul Gandhi will be the only face of the Congress party. The Congress party will contest the elections under collective leadership. Bhupesh Baghel stated that all Congress leaders are faces, but Rahul Gandhi is the biggest face. He added that the Congress party once contested elections with Captain Amarinder Singh as its face. Before that, elections were fought under collective leadership. We will continue to contest elections under collective leadership.

In fact, many senior Congress leaders had considered themselves the CM face for the assembly elections. However, this statement by the Congress in-charge has come as a shock to senior party leaders. However, Raja Warring and Randhawa have already given up their claim to the CM position. Baghel's direct statement about not declaring a CM face is a lesson learned from the 2022 elections. Then, due to the fight between Channi and Navjot Sidhu, Congress was reduced to 18 seats. This time, the high command does not want a fight over the CM seat.

Channi's 'quiet strategy' strengthens his claim for the CM position without controversy

Former Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi is currently working to strengthen his claim for the Chief Minister position without any controversy or open rhetoric. Channi was given the reins of the state after Captain Amarinder Singh was removed from office in 2021. Although he served only three months, his decisions during that tenure consistently brought the Congress into the spotlight.

Preparations for 2027 and the Congress's Position

According to political experts, in the current situation, the Congress appears to be the main competitor against the Aam Aadmi Party in Punjab. Although the Shiromani Akali Dal performed well in the Tarn Taran by-election and the Zila Parishad-Block Samiti elections, it does not currently appear to be in a position to match the Congress. Regarding the BJP, its vote share may be increasing, but its hold in rural areas remains weak. Punjab is considered a major opportunity for the Congress high command, as it is one of the states where the BJP's political presence is limited.