Pargat Singh, Sachin Pilot pay obeisance at Golden Temple, signal Congress unity ahead of 2027 Punjab Polls
Babushahi Bureau
Amritsar (Punjab), October 8, 2026: Newly appointed Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Pargat Singh and All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge of Punjab Sachin Pilot on Thursday began their first major Punjab programme together by paying obeisance at Sri Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar.
The visit, Pargat Singh’s first to Punjab after being appointed state Congress chief, brought together several senior Congress leaders from different sections of the state unit, in a show of unity ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
Pargat Singh and Sachin Pilot arrived at Sri Guru Ram Das Jee International Airport in the morning, where a large number of Congress leaders and workers welcomed them with drumbeats and slogans before they proceeded to the Golden Temple.
Among the senior leaders accompanying them were former Deputy Chief Minister OP Soni, former ministers Vijay Inder Singla and Raj Kumar Verka, MLA Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria and former PPCC working president Sukhwinder Singh Danny.
Notably, Vijay Inder Singla, who had been among the names discussed for the PPCC chief’s post, also joined the delegation at the Golden Temple. The gathering comes after months of differences within the Punjab Congress and the recent replacement of Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as state party chief.
‘Today is not a day for politics,’ says Pargat
Speaking after paying obeisance, Pargat Singh said the purpose of the visit was to express gratitude and seek the blessings of Guru Sahib.
He said political discussions would come later, stressing that the visit to the Golden Temple was not the occasion for political activity.
Pargat Singh also said the Congress did not believe in the politics of hatred or confrontation and would remain committed to the Constitution and the values of Punjabiyat. He described himself as a team player and said the Punjab Congress would have to work collectively.
“Punjab is our target, and the Congress is the vehicle to achieve that goal,” he said.
Congress seeks to project united face
The visit comes at a crucial stage for the Punjab Congress, which has been dealing with internal differences ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
The party is now seeking to project a united state organisation under Pargat Singh, who replaced Warring last week. Pargat is scheduled to formally assume charge as Punjab Congress president at the Punjab Congress Bhawan in Chandigarh on October 11.
Vijay Inder Singla, who was also present at the Golden Temple, said the entire Congress leadership was behind the new state president and would work together for Punjab.
The delegation’s programme in Amritsar also included visits to the Durgiana Temple, St Paul Church and Bhagwan Valmiki Tirath Sthal at Ram Tirath. Pargat was expected to travel to Jalandhar later in the day, where a visit to Dera Sachkhand Ballan was also scheduled.
Pilot raises corruption, drug issue
Sachin Pilot said Punjab and its younger generation faced challenges including drugs and corruption and expressed hope for better prospects for the state.
He also commented on the ongoing CBI investigation linked to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s Officer on Special Duty (OSD) Rajbir Singh Ghuman.
Pilot said the investigation had been ordered by the Punjab and Haryana High Court and called for a thorough and time-bound probe so that the facts could emerge.
The CBI has registered a case concerning allegations against Ghuman and his associates. The agency has alleged that the accused influenced or manipulated postings, departmental proceedings, policy formulation, administrative approvals, tender conditions, licensing matters and land-related issues in return for alleged pecuniary benefits. These are allegations under investigation and have not been established in court.
The Punjab government has challenged the High Court-ordered CBI probe in the Supreme Court.
Congress begins 2027 preparations
The Amritsar programme effectively marks the beginning of the new Punjab Congress leadership’s public outreach ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
The leadership change came after a period of internal tension in the state unit. The new leadership is now attempting to bring different groups together while strengthening the party organisation at the district and constituency levels.
Pargat Singh’s formal assumption of charge on October 11 is expected to be followed by organisational changes and further preparations for the electoral campaign.