Overview
- The Congress president appointed a three-member observer team to Punjab on Thursday to assess the state unit and report back to the high command.
- The observers are Ajay Maken, Meenakshi Natarajan and Bhajan Lal Jatav, with Maken noted for a prior observer role in Punjab in 2021.
- Party sources say the panel’s brief is to ascertain ground reality, resolve factional disputes and propose course corrections for the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee.
- A Congress leader told reporters the observers are expected to submit recommendations by next week, while state figures including Bhupesh Baghel have publicly denied any immediate plan to change the state leadership.
- The move follows recent meetings at Kharge’s Rajaji Marg residence and signals the high command may use the report to decide on leadership, PPCC expansion and election committees ahead of polls early next year.