Punjab Congress leaders pledge unity under Gandhi, Kharge: Sachin Pilot
Sachin Pilot, new Congress in-charge for Punjab, met Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi and said state leaders have assured full support and unity.
Sachin Pilot, newly appointed Congress general secretary in charge of Punjab, met Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Tuesday as he began his new role. Pilot faces the immediate task of bridging factional differences within the state unit, particularly between former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring.
Speaking after the meetings, Pilot dismissed suggestions of a deep rift, saying leaders may have different approaches but all understand that the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) must be voted out. He said he had spoken to nearly all leaders in the state and they assured him of working collectively under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge.
On Channi, Pilot said their meeting was cordial and that the former chief minister had extended complete support to the party's efforts. He noted that the party had made Channi the first Dalit Chief Minister of Punjab, a historic step, and that past decisions cannot be undone but the focus must now be on moving forward.
Pilot identified drugs, agrarian distress, and a financially strained state machinery as key challenges. He argued that the main electoral contest would be between the Congress and AAP, with the incumbent party needing to answer for its governance record. He dismissed the impact of a possible BJP-Akali Dal alliance and criticised AAP's reliance on media promotion rather than delivery.
On concerns about radical elements, Pilot said Punjab is one of India's most secular states and that Punjabi culture transcends religious identity. He called for a reset across industry, agriculture, and employment, asking why Punjabis abroad are not returning to invest when the ecosystem is not conducive.
Pilot also confirmed that he requested Rahul Gandhi to begin the proposed bus yatra in Punjab soon, with details of route and timing still being finalised.