CHANDIGARH, July 7 -- The power struggle within the Punjab Congress intensified on Tuesday as former chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi and leaders aligned with him stayed away from a strategy meeting convened by AICC state affairs in-charge Bhupesh Baghel, signalling their continuing push for an immediate leadership change.

The party high command, however, firmly ruled out any rethink, with Baghel making it clear that recent organisational decisions would stand.

He reiterated that Amarinder Singh Raja Warring would continue as the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) chief, while Partap Singh Bajwa would remain the leader of the opposition.

"There is no resentment in the Congress party. There is no need to revisit the decisions...