Congress Begins Punjab Poll Campaign With 'Har Booth Mazboot' Drive

The Congress on Friday formally launched its campaign for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections with the 'Har Booth Mazboot' (Strengthening Every Booth) programme, aimed at strengthening the party's grassroots network across the state. The event, held in Chandigarh, was presided over by Congress General Secretary in-charge for Punjab Bhupesh Baghel and attended by district, block and booth-level office bearers. Party leaders described the upcoming Assembly polls as crucial for both Punjab and the Congress, urging workers to intensify preparations at the booth level.

Addressing party workers, Bhupesh Baghel said the elections would play a decisive role in shaping Punjab's future and were being closely watched across the country. He accused the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at the Centre of practising vendetta politics, alleging that Congress workers had faced intimidation and political harassment over the past five years. Baghel maintained that the Congress had never believed in politics of revenge and asserted that the party remained the principal alternative to the AAP government in the state.

Baghel predicted a five-cornered contest in the 2027 Assembly elections, with the Congress facing challenges from the AAP, BJP, Shiromani Akali Dal and Waris Punjab De. Calling on booth-level workers to strengthen the party's organisational structure, he said electoral success would depend on winning at every booth. Referring to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's vision, Baghel described the election as a battle to protect constitutional values, unity and social harmony, while also accusing the ruling parties of failing to address issues such as drug abuse, crime and law and order in Punjab.

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Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring also launched a sharp attack on the AAP government, claiming it was losing public support and accusing Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of relying heavily on government-funded advertising to sustain his popularity. Warring alleged that the AAP was preparing to deny tickets to around 40-45 sitting MLAs over their alleged links with the BJP. However, he clarified that none of those legislators were in contact with the Congress. He further claimed that while several AAP MPs had defected to the BJP, no Congress MP or MLA had switched allegiance.

Reaffirming his commitment to the Congress, Warring thanked the party leadership for reposing faith in him despite the presence of several senior leaders in Punjab. He said differences of opinion within the party were natural and had already been resolved, dismissing reports of internal divisions. Naming senior leaders including Partap Singh Bajwa, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Charanjit Singh Channi, Warring said he respected them all and pledged to remain with the Congress regardless of his position, declaring that he had lived as a Congressman and would continue to do so.

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