The development gained traction after state in-charge Bhupesh Baghel indicated that the Congress would “consider” Singh’s return if he expressed interest. Although no formal offer has been confirmed, the remark triggered immediate reactions from state leaders and revived speculation about shifting political alignments.
Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring sought to downplay the issue, saying the party had not taken any decision and would weigh such a move carefully. Legislature Party leader Pratap Singh Bajwa dismissed the reports as routine pre-election speculation, stressing that the organisation’s focus remained on strengthening its grassroots base.
The controversy comes at a sensitive time as the party prepares strategy for the next state polls. A meeting of legislators and defeated candidates has been scheduled in Chandigarh to assess organisational plans. Senior leaders are expected to attend, though Singh himself has not publicly commented.
Political observers say the possibility of his return has unsettled several Congress figures who harbour chief ministerial ambitions. Former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi has remained silent, while Navjot Singh Sidhu, once a prominent critic of Singh, has stayed away from the discussion amid professional commitments. Analysts note that Singh’s re-entry could create a parallel power centre within the state unit.
The issue intensified after Singh remarked recently that he found it easier to reach senior leaders in the Congress than in the BJP and admitted he still missed his former party. Soon afterward, the Enforcement Directorate summoned him and his son in connection with a 2016 case, adding a fresh political dimension to the speculation.
For the BJP, Singh’s potential departure could weaken its Sikh leadership profile, particularly in urban constituencies such as Ludhiana and Amritsar, where contests with the Aam Aadmi Party and Congress remain tight. For Congress, his influence in the Malwa belt, including areas around Bathinda, could reshape electoral calculations.
With neither confirmation nor denial from Singh, the speculation underscores the fluid political landscape in the state. Whether the veteran leader changes sides again may ultimately depend on internal negotiations, electoral arithmetic and the balance of power within both parties.
