India, July 11 -- The Punjab Congress's leadership rift sharpened on Saturday after senior party leader Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, speaking to reporters after a meeting between AICC Punjab in-charge Bhupesh Baghel and leaders close to former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, said the party needed "a leader who speaks forcefully" and "not a compromising leader".

Channi, seen as the camp leader who wants to be CM face, was standing next to Randhawa, nodding but not speaking.

State unit president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring - whose retention in the post by the national leadership is the immediate trigger for the rift - responded sharply. "Who is compromised? Has he taken any names? If not, why are you people pointing it at me? Sukhji...