Congress has begun preparations to assess its organisational position and political conditions in Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Party state in-charge Sachin Pilot and newly appointed state president Pargat Singh will visit various districts from October 16 to 20 to gather feedback on local issues, the organisation's ground-level position and public sentiment on the issue of drug abuse.
The five-day tour will begin in Mansa. The two leaders will meet local leaders and party workers to assess organisational preparedness, understand public concerns and gather feedback on the party's electoral preparations.
Sachin Pilot will arrive in Chandigarh from Delhi on October 16 and travel from there to Mansa. The schedule for the first two days has been finalised, while the itinerary for the remaining three days will be determined based on feedback and circumstances during the visit.
The tour is part of Congress's preparations to formulate its strategy for the upcoming Punjab Assembly elections. Pilot and Pargat Singh will interact with local leaders and workers to assess the party's organisational position and the prevailing political environment in different districts.
The issue of drug abuse has returned to the centre of political debate in Punjab. Protests against the state government have intensified following the shooting of Parvinder Singh Jhotta in Mansa, who had raised his voice against drug abuse. The impact of the Punjab bandh called for October 15 was also visible.
Against this backdrop, the Congress leaders' visit to Mansa is expected to focus on the issue. They may meet families affected by drug abuse, including those who have lost their children because of the problem. The party is expected to assess public sentiment, questions being raised against the state government and its own role in addressing the issue at the local level.
Punjab Congress has faced factionalism and leadership-related differences in recent months. Following Pargat Singh's appointment as state president, the party leadership faces the task of bringing the organisation together and mobilising workers ahead of the elections.
The joint tour by Pilot and Pargat Singh is intended to help assess the organisation's position and gather feedback from the ground. The leaders are likely to visit several districts, including Bathinda, Mansa, Moga, Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot, Gurdaspur and Tarn Taran.
During these visits, they will interact with local leaders and party workers and gather information on key public issues and organisational preparedness.
Congress leadership wants to assess Punjab's political circumstances and organisational weaknesses before advancing its election campaign. Feedback from Pilot and Pargat Singh's tour could help the party determine its priorities.
The findings may inform efforts to strengthen the organisation, incorporate local issues into its electoral strategy and determine the direction of the upcoming campaign. The exercise will also give the party an opportunity to assess its preparedness ahead of a possible visit to Punjab by Rahul Gandhi.
