Chandigarh, Sept. 12 -- Amid continuous factional feud within the Punjab Congress, the newly appointed party state in-charge Sachin Pilot on Friday sought to project the 2027 assembly elections as a direct contest between the Congress and the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). He asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) were not major players in the state's electoral battle.

Interacting with the media in Delhi, Pilot said the Congress would contest the Punjab assembly elections, due early next year, under collective leadership and would not announce a chief ministerial face.

His remarks assume significance as a section of the party, particularly supporters of former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, h...