Sukhjinder Randhawa (PTI image)
Senior Congress MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa’s meeting with Union home minister Amit Shah today has sparked fresh political speculation, coming just a day after the Congress announced a major organisational reshuffle in Punjab ahead of next year’s Assembly elections.The reshuffle retained Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as Punjab Congress chief and Partap Singh Bajwa as Leader of Opposition, while appointing Randhawa as the chairman of the party’s Core Committee.Randhawa’s meeting with Shah on Friday fuelled rumours of discontent within the Punjab Congress, particularly as several leaders are believed to be unhappy with the organisational changes.However, Randhawa dismissed the speculation, clarifying that the meeting was held solely to discuss security-related issues.”I was summoned for a meeting during which we discussed the conclusions I had drawn in the final paragraph of my last letter…I pointed out the presence of central agencies such as the Intelligence Bureau (IB), Military Intelligence (MI), the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). I also emphasised that extortion and threats are rampant across Punjab today,” he said. Gehlot came out in supportCongress senior leader Ashok Gehlot came out in support of senior party leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, saying it was natural for him to meet Union home minister Amit Shah over security concerns. In a post on X, Gehlot said Randhawa and his family had been receiving continuous threats because of his steadfast stand in the national interest.”It is evident that due to their steadfast stand in the interest of the nation, he and his family have continuously received threats. In such circumstances, ensuring their security is entirely the government’s moral and constitutional responsibility. If they meet the Union Home Minister on this serious matter, it is highly regrettable and inappropriate to unnecessarily give a political color to what is a normal and essential process or to misrepresent it,” Gehlot wrote.While the party leadership projected the changes as part of its strategy for the 2027 Assembly elections, several leaders have privately expressed dissatisfaction over the appointments and the manner in which they were made.The reshuffle has also triggered reactions from other senior leaders. Congress MP Manish Tewari, who did not receive any organisational responsibility, posted a cryptic message on X referring to “insecurities of individuals and institutions.” Meanwhile, supporters of former CM Charanjit Singh Channi have also expressed disappointment, with party insiders indicating they are likely to discuss the developments and chart their future course.The Congress is seeking to present a united front in Punjab ahead of the Assembly elections, but the latest reshuffle appears to have exposed underlying fault lines within the state unit.
