Sachin Pilot oversees arrangements as party looks to reclaim political ground in Bhagwant Mann’s home district
With the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections drawing closer, the Congress is gearing up for a major show of strength at its ‘Insaaf Rally’ in Sangrur on November 4, with party leader Rahul Gandhi set to address the gathering. The rally has assumed significance for the Congress, which is looking to reclaim Punjab after its crushing defeat in the 2022 Assembly elections. The party leadership is making concerted efforts to ensure a large turnout, with senior leaders from both Punjab and the national leadership monitoring preparations.
AICC general secretary Sachin Pilot has been visiting the rally venue at Phaguwala village, along with former minister Vijay Inder Singla and other local leaders, to oversee the arrangements. Punjab Congress president Pargat Singh has also inspected the venue as the party mobilises workers and supporters from different parts of the state. The rally is being viewed as an important test for the newly appointed PPCC chief, who took charge amid internal differences and leadership changes within the state unit.
Rahul Gandhi is expected to use the rally to target the AAP government over issues such as drug abuse, unemployment, law and order and governance. The Congress is also likely to take on the BJP and the Shiromani Akali Dal, warning voters against. supporting the two parties. Vijay Inder Singla said Rahul Gandhi would address the gathering at 10 am and raise concerns affecting Punjab. He said the rally would mark the beginning of the Congress’s campaign for the 2027 Assembly elections. The party is hoping to use the event to reconnect with its grassroots workers and project itself as a credible alternative to the AAP government, which swept the 2022 elections.
The choice of Sangrur carries political weight. The district is the home turf of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and has a strong presence of AAP leaders, including state party president Aman Arora and several Cabinet ministers. By holding the rally in the Chief Minister’s home district, the Congress is seeking to send a message that it is ready to challenge AAP on its own ground. The rally also comes at a time when the Congress is attempting to rebuild its organisational strength after losing power in Punjab in 2022.
The Congress has governed Punjab twice in the past two decades, from 2002 to 2007 and from 2017 to 2022. However, its decline began after former Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh was removed from office months before the 2022 elections, triggering a political crisis within the party. The Congress subsequently suffered a major defeat, with AAP winning a sweeping majority. For the national leadership, Punjab remains a key state in its effort to regain political ground in North India. The party is currently in power in states such as Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Telangana, while sharing power with allies in other states.
The rally is expected to provide Rahul Gandhi an opportunity to energise the state unit, address public concerns and set the tone for the party’s campaign ahead of the 2027 elections. For Pargat Singh, the gathering will also be an important opportunity to demonstrate his ability to unite the party’s leaders and workers and deliver a strong political show. With the national leadership directly involved in the preparations, the Congress is hoping that the Sangrur rally will mark the beginning of a renewed political push in Punjab.