New Delhi, Oct 2: A day after changing his bio profile on social media, Congress leader Amarinder Singh Raja Warring on Friday met former party chief Rahul Gandhi and submitted his resignation and also hinted that newly appointed state in-charge Sachin Pilot may have played a role in his removal as the state unit chief, though he said he had no concrete evidence to support his claim.
He also stated that he had “obeyed” the party’s decision.
On Thursday, Warring formally stepped down as Punjab Congress chief and also changed the bio profile on social media handle X stating former Punjab Congress President.
His resignation comes amid the demands from the faction of state leaders led by former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi for his removal and months ahead of the crucial state assembly elections.
The Ludhiana MP, who had arrived in the national capital on Thursday night, on Friday morning met with Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi at 10 Janpath.
The meeting between the two leaders asted for over 30 minutes.
While commenting on his exit as the state unit chief, Warring said he believed Pilot may have decided that it was time for him to be replaced, while acknowledging that he had no concrete proof to support the claim.
He said, “When he was appointed in charge, I went to formally congratulate him. I spoke with him for about 15 minutes that day, but I haven’t met him since.”
He also said that given his long journey in politics, “I feel that Sachin Pilot must have decided it was time to remove ‘Raja’ from the post”.
“I don’t have concrete proof of this, but perhaps the General Secretary felt that Raja should be removed. Otherwise, there is no specific issue,” he said.
The Congress leader, who led the state unit for lver four and half years, said he had already conveyed his concerns to Rahul Gandhi.
“I have conveyed what I had to say to Rahul Gandhi. There is no one left after Rahul Gandhi to whom I could explain what should or shouldn’t happen,” he said.
The Congress leader also reflected on his four-and-a-half-year tenure as Punjab Congress president, saying he accepted the party’s decisions without objection.
While commenting in his meeting with the Rae Bareli MP, Warring said that he showed him affection and sought his views on the political situation on Punjab and the state government and future statregy for Punjab.
He said, “I met my leader, Rahul Gandhi. I answered the questions he asked about Punjab and shared my thoughts. He showed great affection. After that meeting, my wife and I came straight here to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib to offer ‘Ardas’ (prayer)… A tenure can be long or short, but it should be one that people remember. My tenure as a minister was exactly that kind-memorable-and one should be grateful for what one receives. I am satisfied as my tenure as state president and whatever happens, happens for good.
He also said that whatever the party gave, I accepted it willingly and obeyed the command.
The party in first week of September had replaced AICC in-charge Bhupesh Baghel with Pilot.
Baghel had spent several weeks in Punjab attempting to address differences between rival factions and camped there for several weeks.
Former state minister Vijay Inder Singla is among the frontrunners for the post of Punjab Congress chief. Singla is also an AICC co-treasurer and oversees the party’s properties.
Warring was appointed Punjab Congress chief in 2022, succeeding Navjot Singh Sidhu.
The Congress has been grappling with factional differences as it prepares for the 2027 assembly
