Sending out a message of stability ahead of the Punjab Assembly elections, the Congress leadership on Tuesday indicated that there will be no changes in the party’s leadership structure in the state, as senior leaders met in Delhi to finalise the strategy and discuss key political issues.The high-level meeting, held at Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge’s residence at 10, Rajaji Marg, was attended by Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal, Punjab Congress in-charge Bhupesh Baghel, strategist Jattvibeil Kanugolu and other senior leaders.Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Baghel said Punjab remained a priority for the party because the elections were nearing and multiple rounds of discussions had been held to prepare the roadmap for the upcoming electoral battle.Baghel also targeted the ruling AAP government, alleging that corruption remained one of Punjab’s biggest issues and claiming that problems related to drugs, gangster activity and law and order had worsened despite promises of clean governance.He said the government had projected itself as a model of honesty but had failed to match those claims on the ground.The meeting comes at a time when the Congress is attempting to regain lost political ground in Punjab while simultaneously countering an electorally stronger AAP, which significantly improved its performance in the recent local body polls.The local body election results have emerged as a concern for the Congress. Of the 1,997 wards that went to the polls, the Congress managed to win only 393, a sharp fall from the 1,432 wards it had won five years ago. In contrast, AAP expanded sharply from 69 wards to 954, strengthening its grassroots presence ahead of the Assembly elections, expected next year. The BJP also improved its tally from 49 wards to 172.Despite the setback, Congress leaders believe Punjab’s electoral history offers room for optimism. Leaders point out that strong performances in the civic elections have not always translated into Assembly victories. The Congress itself had dominated local polls before the 2022 Assembly elections but eventually won only 18 seats in the 117-member House.The local poll results also triggered discussions within the party over organisational issues and performance across regions. Sources said some leaders raised concerns over electoral performance in different pockets of Punjab, though the central leadership signalled continuity rather than organisational disruption at this stage.With the elections drawing closer, the Congress appears focused on keeping internal issues under control while sharpening its political attack on AAP over governance issues, hoping anti-incumbency and local concerns become central themes in the run-up to the Punjab polls.