‘I’m a team player, will work as full-back’: New Punjab Congress chief Pargat Singh
Former hockey player Pargat Singh has been appointed as the new Punjab Congress president, aiming to unify the party ahead of upcoming assembly elections. He emphasized a team-oriented approach and criticized the current national political climate as dictatorial.
Why it matters
The appointment is a strategic move by the Congress party to manage internal factionalism and improve its electoral prospects in Punjab.
Downplaying factionalism in the Punjab Congress, newly appointed State chief Pargat Singh on Saturday (October 3, 2026) said the team was a good one and all decisions would be taken unanimously, keeping the interests of the State in mind.
Mr. Singh, a former hockey player and India captain, said he had always played as a "full-back," a position centred on supporting the team from behind, and would continue to play the same role in the party by giving prominence to other senior members.
The former Olympian said there was "dictatorship" in the country currently, and "we have to bring back democracy," for which they would fight.
Also covering this story
2 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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