Congress leader Amarinder Singh Raja Warring met Rahul Gandhi on Friday and handed him his formal resignation as the chief of the Punjab unit. The development
comes amid reports of factional differences within the state Congress unit, with some senior leaders seeking a change in the state leadership. Warring's resignation as the Punjab Congress unit chief came as just ahead of the state Assembly polls, scheduled to take place early next year. Earlier in the day, Warring arrived in Delhi and personally submitted his resignation to Congress leader and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi. "I met Rahul Gandhi and formally gave him my resignation," Warring was quoted as saying. "He (Rahul Gandhi) gave me a lot of love and sought information about the current political situation in Punjab, on what is happening with the government and what we should be doing there. This was the information he sought," he added. According to news agency PTI, Warring said that he informed Rahul Gandhi about the challenges the Congress is facing in Punjab as well as its strengths. "I discussed with him our challenges and how we have to fight those challenges and where our strengths lie." "He made me the state Congress chief, and I thanked him for giving me the opportunity to lead the state Congress in difficult circumstances. I assured him that I am ready to serve the party whenever the party requires me," Warring said.
Warring Blames Sachin Pilot
Warring's resignation came after the Congress recently replaced its AICC in-charge Bhupesh Baghel -- who spent weeks in Punjab recently to placate fighting factions -- and appointed Sachin Pilot.Blaming Congress leader Sachin Pilot over his decision to quit, Warring said, "When he was appointed in charge, I went to formally congratulate him. I spoke with him for about 15 minutes that day... but I haven't met him since... Given my long journey in politics, I feel that Sachin Pilot must have decided it was time to remove 'Raja' from the post."
"I don't have concrete proof of this, but perhaps the General Secretary felt that Raja should be removed... Otherwise, there is no specific issue... I have conveyed what I had to say to Rahul Gandhi. There is no one left after Rahul Gandhi to whom I could explain what should or shouldn't happen," he added.
Following Warring stepping down from his position after four years, it is speculated that former state minister Vijay Inder Singla might become the frontrunner to become the new party chief in Punjab. Singla is also a co-treasurer of AICC and oversees the party's properties.
(With agency inputs)
