Warring steps down after months of infighting
Warring, who has served as Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee chief since April 2022, resigned on Wednesday as the Congress looks to reorganise its state unit ahead of the elections.
The move follows months of internal differences involving rival camps within the Punjab Congress.
The leadership question had intensified after the party retained Warring as state president in July while assigning former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi the role of campaign committee chairman.
Warring, who was elected to the Lok Sabha from Ludhiana in 2024, had taken over the state Congress at a difficult time for the party following its defeat in the 2022 Punjab Assembly election.
Who will replace Warring?
The Congress is expected to announce a new state chief shortly.
Former minister Vijay Inder Singla is among the names being discussed and has been described by several reports as a frontrunner.
Jalandhar Cantonment MLA and former India hockey captain Pargat Singh, Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla and former minister Sukhbinder Singh Sarkaria have also emerged in reports as possible contenders.
The final choice is expected to take into account the party's organisational requirements and representation across Punjab's political and regional groups.
Sachin Pilot brought in amid Punjab Crisis
The change comes weeks after the Congress replaced Bhupesh Baghel with Sachin Pilot as its general secretary in charge of Punjab.
Pilot was appointed on September 5 amid continuing tensions within the state unit. Since taking charge, he has held consultations with senior Punjab leaders and party functionaries.
Pilot has also met leaders from different factions, including Charanjit Singh Channi, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa and Vijay Inder Singla, as the party prepares for the upcoming election campaign.
Punjab polls six months away
The Punjab Assembly election is due in early 2027, with the Congress facing the ruling Aam Aadmi Party in the state.
The BJP and Shiromani Akali Dal have also been discussing their political alignment, while Amritpal Singh's Akali Dal (Waris Punjab De) is expected to contest.
Rahul Gandhi is also scheduled to undertake a bus tour across Punjab as the Congress steps up its campaign preparations.
The immediate focus, however, remains on who the party chooses to succeed Warring and whether the leadership change can settle the organisational differences that have persisted within the Punjab unit.