NEW DELHI: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday took a swipe at the ongoing turmoil in the Congress state unit and said that even the new state president will not be able to unite the party leaders.Mann said that the Congress has fewer party workers but more leaders who aspire to become chief minister.“A new president will be appointed, but even the new president will not be able to unite the Congress leaders. After the new president comes, the fight amongst them will further intensify,” Mann said.“The Congress has fewer 'karyakartas' but more leaders who aspire to become CM, not for the well-being of the people but for satisfying their lust for power,” he added.This comes after the Congress high command replaced Amrinder Singh Raja Warring as the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief ahead of the Punjab assembly polls.Although Warring declined to comment on the development, he confirmed it by changing his X bio to “former Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President”.The move comes after months of infighting within the Punjab Congress, which intensified after the party high command decided on July 1 to retain Warring as the state unit chief.

A section of leaders led by former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi had opposed Warring’s continuation and sought his removal. Leaders aligned with the Channi camp also stayed away from party programmes led by Warring.According to PTI, the Congress general secretary and Punjab in-charge held a series of meetings with state leaders before submitting his report to the party high command on the proposed leadership change.

The high command subsequently informed Warring of its decision, party sources told PTI, adding that the Congress is now looking to appoint a leader who can bring different factions together ahead of the 2027 assembly polls.Warring had also faced criticism from sections of the party over the Congress’ electoral performance in Punjab and his leadership.In August, he defended himself against criticism over the party’s decline in the 2022 assembly elections, questioning attempts to hold him responsible for the loss.