Three-time MLA and former Indian hockey captain Pargat Singh formally assumed charge as the president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) on Sunday. The ceremony was held at the Congress Bhawan in Sector 15, Chandigarh, and took place despite heavy rainfall. During his address, Singh emphasised that his tenure would be defined by a commitment to clean governance rather than vendetta politics. He noted that his new role represented a significant increase in his responsibilities towards the people of Punjab and their aspirations.
During the event, Singh directed criticism toward the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), alleging that the party had caused harm to the state and manipulated the bureaucracy for political purposes. Punjab Congress affairs in-charge Sachin Pilot, who was present at the function, lauded Singh as a proven team player, highlighting his past as an Olympic-level athlete and national hockey captain. Pilot expressed confidence in the party's leadership under Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, asserting that they would work toward securing a victory in the upcoming 2027 Assembly elections.
The gathering served as a display of unity for the state unit, with several prominent leaders in attendance, including former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Leader of Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa, and Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari. The speakers acknowledged the efforts of the outgoing president, Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, who led the committee for four and a half years. Channi urged the party to maintain a unified front to represent the interests of farmers, labourers, and the business community. While AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal was absent due to prior engagements in Delhi, party members reiterated their collective focus on providing a new government to the state.
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