India, Oct. 3 -- Former Indian hockey captain and three-time Jalandhar Cantonment MLA Pargat Singh has become the fourth leader from the Congress-dominant Doaba region to head the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC). He succeeds Ludhiana MP Amarainder Singh Raja Warring, who formally submitted his resignation to the party leadership on Friday.

The high command's decision to go with Pargat comes as the central leadership-under recently appointed Punjab in-charge Sachin Pilot-moves to quell months of factionalism within the state unit. A prominent Jat Sikh leader, Pargat was chosen because he has maintained an independent stance and remains unaffiliated with any of the rival camps in the state unit. His appointment allows the high com...