Cong deploys ‘hidden observers’ ahead of 2027 polls

Chandigarh: Stepping up preparations for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections, the Congress has quietly deployed a team of "hidden observers" across the state to gauge ground sentiment, assess social equations and shortlist potential candidates. Party sources said 45 observers from different states have been sent to Punjab, with surveys already underway in all districts.The Congress has been positioning itself as the principal challenger to the Aam Aadmi Party govt ahead of the 2027 polls, and the exercise is being seen as an attempt to build a structured, data-backed strategy early.According to sources, around three observers have been assigned to each district. They are collecting feedback on social equations, organisational strength and the winnability of potential candidates, and will submit periodic reports to the party high command.The party will also commission a parallel survey in every district to evaluate prospective candidates. The observers' findings will be compared with these survey reports to identify the most suitable names for each Assembly segment.Sources said special emphasis has been placed on ensuring adequate representation for Scheduled Castes and Other Backward Classes. To counter the BJP's growing influence in urban areas, due representation will be given to Hindu leaders in urban districts, while Sikh leaders are expected to receive proportionate representation. Urban districts such as Ludhiana, Amritsar and Jalandhar may see Hindu leaders getting preference, while rural districts are likely to have Jat Sikh leaders.Observers have also been tasked with assessing factionalism, which has remained a persistent challenge for the Punjab Congress despite repeated warnings from senior leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal and Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel. With factionalism costing the party in recent byelections, Rahul Gandhi earlier this year warned feuding leaders that those unwilling to function as team players would be made to "sit in the reserves". The party has suffered six defeats in the last seven byelections since the Aam Aadmi Party came to power, deepening unease within the state unit and prompting renewed calls for introspection.Following the warning, state leaders have been attempting to project unity amid factional tensions and recent electoral setbacks by refraining from attacking one another publicly. Senior Punjab Congress leaders have tried to signal closed ranks, asserting that the party's sole focus is to return to power and that key organisational decisions will rest with the central high command.However, cohesion within the state leadership recently came under political scrutiny amid differing demands from its own leaders over the nature of the probe into the suicide of Punjab State Warehousing Corporation district manager Dr Gagandeep Singh Randhawa. The issue gained momentum after four Members of Parliament from the state, including Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, Gurjit Singh Aujla, Charanjit Singh Channi and Dharamvira Gandhi, met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and sought a CBI inquiry into the case. At the same time, Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa and Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee president Amrinder Singh Raja Warring called for a court-monitored investigation, leading to a perception that the party is not on the same page on the issue.