Chandigarh: The BJP in Punjab is poised for a potential leadership shake-up as state president Sunil Jakhar has expressed his desire to resign from his position amid growing dissatisfaction with the party’s high command over its strategy in the region. Jakhar’s discontent was notably absent from the party’s recent membership drive meeting, signaling a deepening rift within the party ranks.
Jakhar, who has been a significant figure in Punjab politics, met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi a week ago to voice his concerns. Despite his expressed intention to resign, he has yet to formalize his departure in writing, leaving his status within the party uncertain.
The timing of Jakhar’s potential exit is critical as it comes just after the announcement of the upcoming panchayat elections in Punjab, scheduled for October 15. With nominations for the positions of sarpanch and panch beginning on October 27, his departure could pose challenges for the BJP’s campaign strategy and local election efforts.
Further compounding the internal party tensions is the recent appointment of Ravneet Singh Bittu as Union Minister of State. Jakhar reportedly harbors resentment towards this decision, particularly as Bittu was appointed to the Rajya Sabha from Rajasthan following his defeat in the Lok Sabha elections—a move that Jakhar views as contradictory to the electoral will.
Despite the BJP’s failure to secure a Lok Sabha seat in Punjab in the last elections held four months ago, the party has seen a rise in its vote share since Jakhar’s leadership began, with current figures around 18 percent, placing it third behind the Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress.
Sunil Jakhar, originally from the village of Panchkosi in Abohar district, has had a long-standing political career, having been elected as an MLA from Abohar city in 2002 and serving three terms. He was also the Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly from 2012 to 2017. Jakhar’s shift from the Congress to the BJP was marked by his appointment as the president of the Punjab BJP on May 19, 2022.
As the BJP navigates these internal and external challenges, the political landscape in Punjab remains highly dynamic, with significant implications for the upcoming local elections and the broader national political scene.
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