Sunil Jakhar Resigns as Punjab BJP President: Party Faces Setback Ahead of Panchayat Elections!
In a significant blow to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Punjab, Sunil Jakhar has resigned from his position as the state party president. This decision comes amid the Haryana Assembly elections and just a year after he was appointed to the role. Sources indicate that the party's central leadership has yet to accept his resignation. Jakhar has maintained a low profile, avoiding important meetings of the state executive.
Jakhar was appointed as the Punjab BJP president on July 4, 2023, with the aim of strengthening the party's position ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, just 14 months into his tenure, he has stepped down. Reports suggest that Jakhar was dissatisfied with the appointment of Ravneet Singh Bittu as a minister, especially after Bittu was given a position as a central minister despite losing in the Lok Sabha elections.
Jakhar joined the BJP in May 2022 following Congress's defeat in the Punjab Assembly elections. His resignation raises questions about the party's strategy and leadership in the state, particularly as the BJP has struggled to secure any seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections and faced losses in recent by-elections.
Despite the resignation, Vijay Rupani, the party's in-charge for Punjab, stated that Jakhar continues to participate in party activities, including a recent membership drive. However, it has been reported that Jakhar has not attended any meetings of the state unit since July 10 and was absent from the membership campaign as well.
Jakhar’s political career began in 2002 when he was first elected to the Punjab Assembly. He won subsequent elections in 2007 and 2012. In 2017, he became a Member of Parliament in a by-election for the Gurudaspur seat, which was vacated after the death of veteran actor and politician Vinod Khanna.
The current political developments suggest potential turmoil within the Punjab BJP as it prepares for upcoming challenges, including the panchayat elections. The party's leadership will need to address internal dissent and work on strategies to regain its foothold in the region.
