‘People want change’: Sachin Pilot says Congress will return to power in Punjab with absolute majority

NEW DELHI: Congress general secretary in-charge of Punjab Sachin Pilot on Sunday expressed confidence that his party would return to power in the state with an absolute majority, claiming that people had lost faith in the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government and wanted a change.Speaking to reporters at the Punjab Congress headquarters in Chandigarh, Pilot said voters wanted to bring the Congress back to power in the Assembly elections scheduled for early next year.“The Congress will form its government with absolute majority in Punjab,” Pilot said, alongside newly appointed Punjab Congress president Pargat Singh, according to news agency PTI.Singh, a three-time MLA from Jalandhar Cantt and former captain of the Indian hockey team, formally took charge as the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president at a ceremony at Punjab Congress Bhawan on Sunday.He replaced Ludhiana MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, who stepped down from the post earlier this month.Pilot acknowledged Warring's work during his four-and-a-half-year tenure as state Congress president and said Singh had now been entrusted with the responsibility of leading the party's state unit.“Pargat Singh has assumed his charge. Former Punjab Congress president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring worked very hard for four-and-a-half years. Now, Pargat Singh has been entrusted with the responsibility,” Pilot said.Pilot says Punjab voters want ‘badlav’Pilot said Congress leaders were working together ahead of the Assembly elections, adding that four months remained for the polls.“People of Punjab have lost faith in AAP government and want 'badlav'. They want to get rid of this government,” he said, expressing confidence that voters would bring the Congress back to power.Singh, meanwhile, called for collective efforts to address the state's challenges.“We all will have to work hard together. The Punjab brand needs to be fixed...,” he said.Former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, who attended the event, said he would highlight issues concerning Punjab under the AAP government. He accused the state government of allowing drugs and gangsterism to flourish and alleged that it had damaged the state's economy. Channi also claimed that corruption and mafia activity were prevalent in the state.Congress MP Manish Tewari called for unity within the party, saying its leaders would work together to address Punjab's concerns, news agency ANI reported.Pilot raises ‘vote chori’ allegationsPilot also criticised the BJP over the opposition's demand for the resignation of chief election commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in electoral rolls.“I am surprised that we are seeking resignation of CEC Gyanesh Kumar. If we ask questions from the CEC, why are BJP spokespersons giving a reply... Why are BJP spokespersons defending him? It has been proved beyond doubt that there has been 'vote chori' in the country, responsibility of murdering democracy lies on them and the government has aided them,” he said.Pilot claimed that the names of 13 crore voters had been deleted and said irregularities in elections would prompt a public response.“Today, public is on roads and there is anger among the youth. Names of 13 crore voters have been cut. When irregularities will be committed in polls, so there will be reaction from public,” he said.He added that Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge stood with the people and democracy.Warring pledges support to new state chiefWarring, who resigned as Punjab Congress president on October 1, said he would support Singh and continue working for the party, PTI reported.“There is no other objective. Raja Warring may have lost and fallen, but my job is to keep holding the party flag high,” he said.Warring also acknowledged that some party leaders had opposed him during his tenure and might continue to do so, but insisted that he would not oppose the new leadership.“I only consider Rahul Gandhi as my leader,” he said, adding that he would remain a Congress worker regardless of whether he received a ticket for the next Assembly elections.The Congress leadership changed the state unit's leadership ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections amid internal disagreements over the organisation.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.