Is Captain Amarinder Singh Preparing for a Return to Congress Along with His Camp?
Baljit Balli/ Babushahi News Network
Chandigarh, May 30, 2026: Political circles in Punjab are abuzz with speculation that former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh may be preparing for a return to the Congress party. According to sources close to the veteran leader, not only Captain Amarinder Singh but a large section of his political camp is reportedly eager to rejoin the Congress fold.
Sources suggest that a major political development could unfold at any time. While Captain Amarinder Singh and his supporters have reportedly been feeling increasingly uncomfortable within the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for quite some time, these sentiments have often been expressed only in private conversations. However, following the appointment of Kewal Singh Dhillon as Punjab BJP president and the recent municipal election results in the state, Captain is believed to have concluded that he enjoys little influence within the BJP and has limited prospects of achieving political success in the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections while remaining in the party.
In conversations with select journalists, Captain Amarinder Singh has openly expressed his displeasure over the appointment of Kewal Dhillon, stating that he was not consulted despite a widespread perception in political circles that the decision had been made on his recommendation.
Captain and his associates are also understood to believe that the BJP cannot come to power in Punjab without an alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD). They reportedly view claims by certain BJP leaders that the party can independently secure power in Punjab as detached from ground realities.
There is also a growing realization within the Captain camp that even the Amarinder family may find it difficult to win Patiala's lone urban Assembly seat solely on a BJP ticket. Such a possibility, they believe, could emerge only in the event of a BJP-SAD alliance. By contrast, the family has traditionally enjoyed electoral success from the constituency while in the Congress, and many believe the chances of victory in the 2027 Assembly elections would be significantly higher under the Congress banner. There are reports that suggest that the family may be considering fielding Captain's daughter, Jai Inder Kaur, from the constituency.
Captain Amarinder Singh's increasingly vocal criticism of both Kewal Dhillon's appointment and the BJP's centralized decision-making process has further fuelled speculation about a possible exit with the party. Political observers see his public comparison of the BJP's organizational culture with what he describes as the more open environment within the Congress as a sign of growing dissatisfaction.
The key question now is whether the Congress leadership is willing to facilitate his return. While some Congress leaders are strongly opposed to welcoming Captain back into the party, others are believed to support the idea.
It is also widely known that Captain Amarinder Singh and his supporters had hoped that he would be accommodated as a Governor or appointed to another significant constitutional or administrative position after joining the BJP. However, despite reportedly pursuing such possibilities for several years, the BJP-led central government did not offer him any major assignment. According to political circles, the only relief extended was the suspension of proceedings in an Enforcement Directorate (ED) case involving members of his family.
Observers point out that a somewhat similar experience was faced by the late Sardar Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa after he moved closer to the BJP following his departure from the Shiromani Akali Dal. Despite his stature, he too was neither appointed Governor nor accommodated in any significant position. Those close to him recall that he often privately expressed disappointment over not receiving adequate attention from the BJP leadership and complained that senior leaders sometimes took months to grant him an appointment.
Captain Amarinder Singh has consistently advocated a BJP-SAD alliance in Punjab, whereas the BJP's central leadership has appeared inclined towards contesting elections independently. This difference of opinion has become increasingly visible and has contributed to the widening gap between Captain and the party leadership.
The coming weeks may determine whether the Congress party opens its doors to the former Chief Minister or whether he chooses to continue within the BJP despite his apparent frustrations. Another question being discussed in political circles is whether the shadow of the ED case still influences political calculations.
For now, the Amarinder family remains silent on the matter. It may be recalled that when similar reports of Captain's possible return to Congress surfaced earlier, former MP and Union Minister Preneet Kaur had publicly denied such speculation.