India, Oct. 3 -- The Congress on Friday appointed former India hockey captain and Jalandhar Cantonment MLA Pargat Singh (61) as the new president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC), replacing Amarinder Singh Raja Warring as the party begins preparations for the Punjab assembly elections due early next year.

The appointment followed days of hectic consultations within the party and came against the backdrop of differences among senior Punjab Congress leaders. Warring, who had headed the state unit since April 2022, met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Friday and submitted his resignation.

Congress general secretary and Punjab affairs in-charge Sachin Pilot held consultations with senior leaders in the state befor...