Pargat Singh’s first interview as Punjab Congress chief: ‘No wajood outside Punjab and Congress’ਪੰਜਾਬ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਵਜੋਂ ਪਰਗਟ ਸਿੰਘ ਦਾ ਪਹਿਲਾ ਇੰਟਰਵਿਊ: ਪੰਜਾਬ ਅਤੇ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਤੋਂ ਬਾਹਰ ਕੋਈ ਵਜੂਦ ਨਹੀਂ

New Punjab Congress president Pargat Singh has used his first interview since taking charge to declare that the party’s warring factions must rally behind one goal — winning the February 2027 Assembly elections — insisting that Congress workers have “no wajood (existence) and aukaat (standing) outside Punjab and without the Congress”.

“No place for dictatorship”

Speaking to The Indian Express in Jalandhar, the 62-year-old former India hockey captain and three-time Jalandhar Cantonment MLA addressed the open rift between his predecessor Raja Warring and former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi head-on. “Differences of opinion must exist in democracies and political parties. In a democracy, there is no place for dictatorship,” he said, adding that talk of factions is “just a narrative that has been created”.

“I have taken everything positive as our target is much bigger. The organisation is united and there is a single target of winning the Assembly polls,” Singh said.

A jab at AAP over the Maiserkhana suspension

Singh turned the democracy question back on the ruling Aam Aadmi Party, pointing to its suspension of Maur MLA Sukhveer Singh Maiserkhana after he publicly raised the teacher-shortage issue. “Can anyone in the BJP or AAP speak openly against their leadership? ... Is that democracy?” he asked.

“In the Congress, everyone has the right to speak their mind,” he added.

The full-back’s game plan for 2027

Describing himself as a “full-back” who takes everyone along, Singh said every leader would be given a role according to their strength, with victory as the only aim. Candidates, he said, will be chosen on merit, surveys, winnability and character — “apart from these criteria, there must not be any other consideration”.

On the question of a chief ministerial face, he said the decision is the prerogative of the legislators, and winning the election comes first. The party’s plank, he said, will be reviving “brand Punjab” — law and order, drugs, the economy, mounting debt, farming and women’s safety.

“Like they ask the Congress for hisaab-kitaab (accountability) for our 70-year rule, we will ask them about the 12 years they were in power. Also, we will ask for accountability from the AAP,” Singh said.

On Waris Punjab De

“The WPD is like any other political party in the state... Everyone has a right to float a party and contest elections. I wish them good luck. For me, what matters is to make the Congress victorious.”

Who is Pargat Singh?

Pargat Singh, 62, is a former India hockey captain and three-time MLA from Jalandhar Cantonment who has been appointed Punjab Congress president ahead of the February 2027 Assembly elections.

What did he say about factionalism in the Punjab Congress?

He called it a “created narrative”, saying Congress workers have “no wajood and aukaat outside Punjab and without the Congress” and insisting the organisation is united.

What is his plan for the 2027 polls?

A Punjab-centric campaign to revive “brand Punjab”, with candidates chosen on merit, surveys, winnability and character; the CM choice rests with the legislators.

What did he say about AAP suspending its Maur MLA?

He questioned the suspension of Sukhveer Singh Maiserkhana over the teacher-shortage issue, asking whether anyone in the BJP or AAP can speak openly against their leadership.