Punjab Congress to Contest Elections Without CM Face, Confident of Forming Government: Sachin Pilot

Congress Punjab in-charge Sachin Pilot has expressed confidence that his party will form the next government in Punjab, claiming it has a strong team under the leadership of newly appointed state Congress president Pargat Singh. He said the party was confident of winning the elections and would contest without projecting a chief ministerial candidate.
 

Pilot, who took charge as the All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of Punjab last month, said the people of the state wanted a change. He maintained that Congress leaders were working together as a team and that the party would decide on its chief ministerial candidate after winning the elections.
 

According to Pilot, the final decision on the chief minister would be taken after consulting party workers, leaders and legislators. He emphasised that the party's immediate priority was to fight the elections collectively and secure a victory.
 

Pilot Praises Pargat Singh's Leadership
 

Praising Pargat Singh, Pilot described him as a leader who believed in taking everyone along. He said the new state Congress president had brought leaders together and that the party had a strong team capable of taking on its political rivals.
 

Pilot highlighted the experience of senior Congress leaders, including Partap Singh Bajwa, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Charanjit Singh Channi and Amarinder Singh Raja Warring. He said the presence of experienced leaders with grassroots connections had strengthened the party's position in the state.
 

Comparing the party's leadership to a cricket team, Pilot said Congress had 11 strong players working together towards a common goal.
 

Congress Claims Credit for Punjab's Development
 

Pilot said Punjab had witnessed governments led by the Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya Janata Party (SAD-BJP) alliance and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). However, he claimed that Congress had played a key role in ending militancy, promoting development and bringing investment to the state.
 

He asserted that the party was prepared to seek a fresh mandate by highlighting its record and presenting a united front in the upcoming elections.
 

Pilot Targets AAP, BJP and Akali Dal
 

Taking aim at the Aam Aadmi Party, Pilot alleged that the party depended heavily on Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. He also claimed that public confidence in AAP had declined.
 

On the BJP, Pilot said the party had substantial resources but would struggle to emerge as a major political force in Punjab. He argued that the BJP had traditionally depended on the Shiromani Akali Dal for support in the state.
 

Commenting on the Akali Dal, Pilot said the party had split into different factions and was no longer as strong as it had been in the past.
 

Congress Confident of Direct Contest With AAP
 

Pilot maintained that the principal electoral contest in Punjab would be between Congress and AAP. He reiterated his confidence in Congress's prospects, saying the party was fully prepared to fight the elections and form the next government.
 

His remarks underline the Congress strategy of entering the electoral contest with a collective leadership approach rather than announcing a chief ministerial face before the polls.