Punjab Cong faces fresh rift as MP challenges Warring's 'one family, one ticket' rule

Punjab Congress is facing a fresh rift as MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa challenged state unit chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring's "one family, one ticket" rule ahead of upcoming assembly elections. Randhawa argued that families should be eligible for up to four tickets if their members possess winning potential. At an event attended by former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Randhawa emphasized that the party's victory hinges on the support of its workers rather than any single individual.

This stance contrasts with Warring's advocacy for granting a single ticket to each family, a policy that has previously been endorsed by prominent leaders like Rahul Gandhi. Warring, who is expected to recommend ticket allocations, reiterated his adherence to the "one person per family should get a ticket" principle. Meanwhile, BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu criticized the Congress, pointing out that families like the Gandhis have already breached the party's own rules by securing multiple parliamentary seats.

Bittu questioned why the Gandhi family could hold four parliamentary positions but argued that individual families should be allowed to contest multiple elections. The Punjab Congress has been plagued by factionalism despite pledges by its leadership to enhance unity prior to the 2023 Assembly elections. On July 1, the party's leadership decided to retain Warring as chief and appoint Channi as chairman of the campaign committee, though Channi and some others had opposed Warring's continued leadership.