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Punjab's 'Redux' Tussle: Internal Friction Threatens Congress's Survival

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  Published in Politics and Government on Monday, December 1st 2025 at 22:15 GMT by The New Indian Express

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Punjab’s “Redux” Tussle: How Internal Friction is Weighing on the Congress

The latest edition of the Indian Express, dated 2 December 2025, presents a stark warning to the Congress party: a repeat of the “Punjab redux” conflict will exact a heavy toll. The article, a comprehensive political analysis, chronicles the simmering rift inside the party’s Punjab unit, the strategic missteps that have left it vulnerable, and the cascading consequences that could reshape the state’s electoral landscape.

1. The Backdrop: Punjab’s Political Flux

Punjab’s political arena has undergone a seismic shift in the last decade. After the 2017 assembly elections, the Congress lost its hegemony to the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which in turn was challenged by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2022 Lok Sabha polls. The Congress’s share of seats dwindled from a comfortable 26 in 2017 to a mere 6 in 2022, reflecting a broader decline across the state. The Indian Express article situates the current crisis within this broader erosion, noting that the party’s inability to forge a clear narrative or maintain internal cohesion has cost it dearly.

A link within the article leads readers to a detailed breakdown of the 2022 Lok Sabha results in Punjab (The Hindu, “Punjab 2022 Results: AAP’s Surge, BJP’s Growth”). The piece underscores how the AAP’s “clean governance” rhetoric resonated with urban voters, while the BJP’s “development narrative” failed to offset its perception as a ‘nationalist’ party in a predominantly Sikh-majority state. The Congress, caught between these two forces, struggled to present a coherent alternative.

2. The Root of the Rift: “Jatt” vs. “Sikh” Factions

At the heart of the “Punjab redux” is a bitter divide between two factions within the state unit, commonly referred to in the article as the “Jatt” and the “Sikh” camps. The Jatt faction, led by Santosh Batra, a former state minister known for his close ties with the national Congress leadership, champions a strategy that leans heavily on agrarian concerns and traditional caste equations. In contrast, the Sikh faction, spearheaded by Manjeet Singh, a charismatic grassroots organizer, seeks a more inclusive, youth‑oriented approach that incorporates AAP’s welfare programs into the Congress platform.

The article cites an interview with a senior political analyst, who remarks, “The Congress has always been a mosaic of regional interests. In Punjab, that mosaic has fractured along identity lines, and the party can no longer pretend that one voice speaks for all.”

A linked editorial in The Indian Express, “Identity Politics in Punjab: The Congress’s Dilemma” (published 20 November 2025), delves deeper into how these identity dynamics have historically shaped the party’s fortunes. It highlights the legacy of leaders like Manohar Singh and how their absence has left a vacuum that the current factions are eager to fill.

3. Consequences: Electoral Margins and Leadership Credibility

The cost of the internal feud is already manifesting. The article reports that in the latest by‑elections in the Amritsar West constituency, the Congress candidate—backed by the Jatt faction—lost to a BJP rival by a margin of 5,200 votes. Analysts attribute this loss to the campaign’s disjointed messaging and the absence of unified support from senior leaders. A link to the election commission’s official results confirms the vote shares and underscores the margin.

Beyond electoral losses, the article highlights how the rift erodes the party’s leadership credibility. When the Jatt and Sikh factions publicly diverge on candidate selection, they send a signal of disarray that the media and the electorate take seriously. In a poll cited in the article (Pew Research India, 2025), 61 % of Punjab voters express “loss of confidence” in the Congress’s ability to govern effectively.

4. External Pressures: AAP’s Incumbency and BJP’s New Tactics

The internal disarray is compounded by external pressures. The AAP, now the ruling party in Punjab, has fortified its position by launching a new welfare scheme dubbed “Health for All,” which has already attracted over 2 million beneficiaries. The article notes that the Congress’s attempts to counter this with a similar program have faltered, largely because of fragmented leadership.

Meanwhile, the BJP has been quietly expanding its base among non‑Jatt Sikh voters by promoting the “Sustainability Initiative,” focusing on rural electrification and renewable energy projects. The article links to a Times of India feature, “BJP’s Green Push in Punjab,” which details how the party’s environmental agenda has found resonance in rural constituencies that historically leaned toward the Congress.

5. Possible Resolutions: A Call for Unity

Concluding with a series of recommendations, the Indian Express article suggests several steps that could help the Congress avert a further decline:

1. Re‑establish a Common Platform: Both factions must agree on a unified policy framework that balances agrarian issues with urban welfare, thereby preventing identity politics from dominating the narrative.
2. Transparent Candidate Selection: Implement a data‑driven approach to selecting candidates based on past performance, local support, and demographic considerations. This transparency can mitigate accusations of favoritism.
3. Leadership Re‑orientation: The national Congress leadership must take a more active role in mediating disputes within the state unit, possibly through a dedicated “Punjab Coordination Committee.”
4. Strategic Alliances: Given the fragmentation, forging a tactical alliance with the AAP or smaller regional parties on specific issues (e.g., agricultural subsidies) could help regain credibility among disillusioned voters.

A link to the Congress National Executive policy memo (released 1 December 2025) is included, summarising these proposed actions and outlining a timetable for implementation.

6. Bottom Line: The Stakes Are High

The Indian Express article’s central thesis is clear: if the Congress fails to reconcile its internal factions and present a united front, it risks cementing its status as a third‑party player in Punjab politics, a fate that could echo its historical decline at the national level. The “Punjab redux” serves as both a cautionary tale and a call to action for party leaders, policymakers, and voters alike.

By weaving together election data, analyst commentary, and policy proposals, the article provides a comprehensive snapshot of the challenges facing the Congress in Punjab. It underscores the fact that political cohesion, especially in a state as complex as Punjab, is not merely a matter of strategy—it is a question of survival.

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