Amid efforts to defuse tensions triggered by a recent reshuffle in the state Congress, former Chief Minister and Jalandhar MP Charanjit Singh Channi on Wednesday affirmed his loyalty to party leader Rahul Gandhi and said he would stick to the strategy formulated by the top leadership.The statement came hours after All-India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary in-charge for Punjab Bhupesh Baghel once again ruled out any rethink on the state leadership, saying the decisions taken by the high command were no “child’s play”.Seeking to strike a conciliatory note, Punjab Congress president Warring said, “I have no problem even if I have to keep someone’s shoes on my head”.Baghel had landed in Chandigarh on Monday to quell dissent in the Punjab Congress after the party top leadership retained Amrinder Singh Raja Warring as the unit chief, much to the chagrin of several senior leaders who sided with Channi.In the party rejig, Channi was assigned the role of the campaign committee head for the Assembly poll scheduled for early next year.Amid the ongoing tussle, Baghel had resorted to dinner diplomacy to bridge the rift but received a lukewarm response from the Channi camp, whose leaders skipped a key meeting called by the Punjab in-charge on Tuesday.Now, breaking his silence, Channi said “Rahul Gandhi was and would always remain his leader”. “Whatever the strategy party makes, we will implement it strongly,” he said avoiding to answering queries on the Warring’s re-appointment.Meanwhile, sources said the disgruntled leaders were scheduled to meet tomorrow to decide whether to meet Baghel or put their issues before Gandhi.Amritsar MP Gurjit Singh Aujla had gone to meet Channi after meeting Baghel and Warring. Taking to X, Aujla said, “Several senior leaders are making efforts to resolve the ongoing issues through dialogue and strengthen the party”. Efforts are also on to reach out to Gurdaspur MP Sukhjinder Randhawa.‘Changes in poll panels likely’Senior leaders said the trust deficit between Warring, Channi and other senior leaders had widened over the past four years. “Things are being sorted out. Some changes in the election committees could take place if the leaders come together on one platform”, said a party leader privy to the development.Earlier, talking to The Tribune, Baghel said, “Either Channi ji will come to the PPCC office or I will go to meet him in a day or two”.Sources said Baghel was trying to stem the narrative triggered by dissidents’ absence from a key party meet on Monday.Urging the disgruntled leaders not to publicly defy AICC representatives, a senior leader said they had advised the disgruntled leaders to fight for their cause while maintaining discipline.A senior leader said the narrative that Channi could switch to the BJP was false.“At the two meetings held by the disgruntled leaders, it has been repeatedly stressed that all leaders are loyal to the Congress and would sort out the issues remaining in the party. No one is leaving the party,” said the leader.Former Minister Balbir Sidhu hosts dinnerFormer Health Minister and Congress leader Balbir Singh Sidhu hosted a dinner for Baghel at the Sector 78 residence of his brother and former Mohali Mayor Amarjit Singh Sidhu.State Congress chief Amrinder Raja Warring, Rana KP Singh, MP Amar Singh, ex-minister Sadhu Singh Dharamsot, and MLA Vikramjit Singh Chaudhary were among those present.