Newly appointed Punjab Congress president Pargat Singh and party general secretary in-charge Sachin Pilot visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Thursday, seeking blessings and expressing gratitude following Singh's appointment as state party chief. The visit brought together several senior Congress leaders and workers and was seen as an effort to project a united face ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
Singh, who took charge of the Punjab Congress earlier this month, arrived in Amritsar along with Pilot. They were welcomed at the airport by party leaders and workers before proceeding to the Golden Temple. Singh said his visit was focused on offering prayers and seeking blessings, while the two leaders were accompanied by members of the state Congress leadership during their programme.
The visit comes after weeks of internal differences within the Punjab Congress over its state leadership. Singh replaced Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as Punjab Congress president on October 3. Before returning to Punjab, Singh met Warring in Delhi and subsequently maintained that the party was united and would work together for the forthcoming Assembly elections.
Also Read: Congress Leaders Held in Aggressive Protest Over Alleged Harassment and Death in Punjab
Several senior Congress leaders, including Vijay Inder Singla, Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria, former deputy chief minister O P Soni, Raj Kumar Verka and Sukhwinder Singh Danny, joined Singh and Pilot at the Golden Temple. Party leaders emphasised collective work for Punjab, with the gathering intended to convey cooperation among different sections of the state unit as preparations for the election gather pace.
Singh and Pilot are also scheduled to visit other religious sites in Amritsar, including the Durgiana Temple, St Paul Church and Ram Tirath Temple. Singh has indicated that he would begin political activities after completing the religious visits. The programme is part of the new state leadership's initial outreach as the Congress prepares for the 2027 Assembly contest.
The unity display comes as the Punjab Congress seeks to strengthen its organisation ahead of the elections due early next year. While several prominent leaders participated in Thursday's programme, some senior figures, including former state Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and MPs Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Gurjeet Singh Aujla and Charanjit Singh Channi, were absent. The new leadership now faces the task of coordinating the party's different factions as it moves into the election campaign.
Also Read: Congress Dares CJP to Audit Punjab Schools "With Same Eyes" as Elsewhere