Pargat Singh Takes Charge as Punjab Congress Chief as Warring, Channi Share Stageਪਰਗਟ ਸਿੰਘ ਨੇ ਸੰਭਾਲਿਆ ਪੰਜਾਬ ਕਾਂਗਰਸ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਦਾ ਅਹੁਦਾ; ਵੜਿੰਗ, ਚੰਨੀ ਇੱਕ ਸਟੇਜ 'ਤੇ

Former India hockey captain Pargat Singh formally took charge as president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee in Chandigarh on Sunday, 11 October 2026, with the party putting its senior state leaders on one stage about five months before the 2027 Assembly elections. Heavy rain interrupted the ceremony at the party headquarters, but workers kept up their slogans.

Who attended the ceremony?

AICC general secretary and Punjab in-charge Sachin Pilot formally handed over the post. Outgoing chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa and Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari were present, along with MLAs Rana Gurjit Singh and Sukhpal Singh Khaira. Pargat, 61, a three-time MLA from Jalandhar Cantonment, replaces Warring after weeks of internal unrest in the state unit.

What did Pargat Singh say?

Beginning on the first day of Navratri, Pargat said "the issues of Punjab are first" and promised "clean politics" without vendetta. He urged party workers to avoid misleading AI-generated videos and negative campaigning. He accused the AAP government of treating the bureaucracy as a tool, and asked DGP Gaurav Yadav and Chief Secretary KAP Sinha to act within the law. He also said people awaiting justice in sacrilege cases must be heard.

What was the message from Warring and others?

Warring, who arrived with supporters after a show of strength at a house in Sector 10, said he had come to congratulate Pargat, that his "only leader is Rahul Gandhi", and asked the high command not to forget workers of the past four and a half years. Pilot said a strong team makes a good captain and that people of Punjab were waiting to remove the AAP government. Channi said the party would soon begin its campaign with a major rally, while Bajwa raised concerns over alleged deletion of 20 lakh votes and paddy procurement troubles.

What happens next?

The Congress says it will launch a statewide campaign and a big rally. The test for Pargat will be holding together a party that has seen factional differences, as Punjab heads to polls expected early next year.

Who is Pargat Singh?

Pargat Singh is a former captain of the Indian hockey team and an Olympian, and a three-time MLA from Jalandhar Cantonment.

Who did Pargat Singh replace as Punjab Congress president?

He replaced Ludhiana MP Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, who led the unit for over four years.

When are the next Punjab Assembly elections?

They are due in early 2027, roughly five months from now, according to the reports.