By Ravinder Singh Robin
In the turbulent arena of Punjab politics, the Indian National Congress has mastered the art of unity under pressure, much like a family banding together during a storm. This timeless narrative unfolded once more on February 16, 2026, when key Punjab Congress leaders converged at the Chandigarh residence of Partap Singh Bajwa for a strategic dinner meeting.
The gathering, hosted by Bajwa, currently the Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Legislative Assembly, served as a powerful signal of cohesion ahead of the 2027 Vidhan Sabha elections.
Bajwa, a seasoned politician who has held the opposition leadership since April 2022, orchestrated the event to mend fences amid recent infighting. Attendees included Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring, former CM Charanjit Singh Channi, and other heavyweights like Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa,Bharat Bhushan Ashu, Gurjeet Singh Aujla, Sukhjinder Singh Sarkaria, Om Parkash Soni and Jasbir Singh Dimpa and many more. The meeting echoed the party’s historical pattern: internal rivalries give way to solidarity when stakes are high.
Flash back to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where Punjab’s 13 parliamentary seats were fiercely contested. Congress aspirants clashed bitterly during ticket allocations, but once the high command finalized candidates, they united to secure 7 seats, the highest tally. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) claimed 3, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) 1, and Independents 2, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) drawing a blank.
This victory mirrored the 2017 assembly polls under Captain Amarinder Singh as Chief Minister, when Congress dominated with 77 out of 117 seats, forming the government. Captain Amarinder Singh, a former Army officer and two-time Punjab CM (2002–07 & 2017–21) from Congress, quit the party in September 2021 after clashes with Navjot Sidhu and feeling sidelined. He formed Punjab Lok Congress in October 2021, allied with BJP for 2022 polls, then merged his party with BJP on 19 September 2022 and officially joined them.
Dinner diplomacy, a time-honored tactic in Indian politics, thrives on the intimacy of shared meals to forge alliances and mend rifts away from the public glare.By hosting critics like Charanjit Singh Channi and Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa over Punjabi delicacies, think “buttery sarson da saag and makki di roti” the event crafted a narrative of unity, countering perceptions of factionalism. It works by humanizing leaders, allowing off-the-record talks to resolve egos and strategize, while leaked photos or statements amplify a “all is well” storyline in media, boosting morale and voter confidence.
Whispers from the dinner added fun: light gossip flew around, like jokes about Warring’s style and Channi teasing about the opposition seat. All in good humour, it helped melt old tensions. Though unconfirmed, such friendly chat shows how a simple meal can turn fights into friendship and build a strong story of unity for the party’s future fights.
Today, in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha, elected in 2022, Congress holds 16 seats as the official opposition, trailing AAP’s commanding 94.The recent show of unity at Partap Singh Bajwa’s residence underscores the party’s resolve to capitalize on any anti-incumbency wave. experts opine that As the 2027 assembly polls approach, this renewed cohesion could prove pivotal in narrowing the gap and mounting a serious challenge to AAP’s stronghold.
As Bajwa’s dinner diplomacy underscores, when the “heat is on,” Punjab Congress queues up like clockwork. All eyes are now on 2027, where this unity could script a triumphant return to power, reclaiming the state’s political throne. The coming year will test whether Congress can translate internal solidarity into electoral momentum and reclaim its historical influence in Punjab politics.
