Congress on Friday appointed former Indian hockey captain and Jalandhar Cantt MLA Pargat Singh as the new president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), replacing Amarinder Singh Raja Warring after his resignation earlier in the day, ANI reported.
An official notification signed by AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal said the appointment takes effect immediately. The party also acknowledged Warring's contribution during his tenure as Punjab Congress president, a post he had held since 2022.
The leadership change comes ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, with the Congress seeking to reorganise its state unit after losing the 2022 polls to the Aam Aadmi Party. The party said working presidents, chairpersons and co-chairpersons of various election-related committees in Punjab will continue in their existing roles.
Warring says he conveyed views to Rahul Gandhi
Warring, who resigned as Punjab Congress chief on Friday, said he had already conveyed his views on the state party organisation to Rahul Gandhi. Speaking to ANI, he said he believed Punjab Congress in-charge Sachin Pilot may have concluded that it was time for him to step down, while acknowledging that he had no concrete proof of this.
Warring said he had met Pilot when the latter was appointed Punjab in-charge but had not met him since. He said he had explained his position to Gandhi and had no one else in the party to whom he needed to convey his views.
ANI reported that Warring also spoke positively about his meeting with Gandhi after stepping down. He said he answered Gandhi's questions about Punjab and shared his views on the state.
'Whatever happens, happens for good'
Reflecting on his tenure, Warring said he was satisfied with his four-and-a-half years as state Congress president and believed a tenure should be remembered for the work done during it.
He said he had accepted the responsibilities given to him by the party and would remain grateful for what he had received.
"I met my leader, Rahul Gandhi. I answered the questions he asked about Punjab and shared my thoughts. He showed great affection," Warring said, according to ANI.
The appointment of Pargat Singh now puts a new leader at the helm of the Punjab Congress as the party prepares for the next Assembly election. Singh, a former Indian hockey captain, currently represents Jalandhar Cantt in the Punjab Assembly.
