Chandigarh (Gurpreet Singh): The Bharatiya Janata Party is reportedly preparing for a major organisational reshuffle in Punjab, with former Barnala legislator Kewal Singh Dhillon emerging as the frontrunner for the post of state party president. Sources within the party indicate that the official announcement could be made shortly.
Dhillon, a senior political figure from Punjab’s Malwa region and a former Congress leader, is expected to replace current Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar, whose term is scheduled to conclude in July. Party insiders say Jakhar will continue to remain actively involved in the BJP’s preparations for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
The move is being viewed as part of the BJP’s broader strategy to strengthen its outreach among Sikh voters in the state. Senior party leaders and RSS functionaries have reportedly supported the idea of appointing a Sikh leader to head the Punjab unit at a time when the BJP is attempting to expand its political footprint beyond its traditional support base.
Dhillon, who served as MLA from Barnala for two consecutive terms, joined the BJP in 2022 after leaving the Congress along with several other leaders following the party’s defeat in the Punjab Assembly elections. He was later appointed vice-president of the Punjab BJP.
Political observers believe Dhillon’s long-standing association with former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh could help the BJP gain traction in parts of rural Punjab, particularly in the Malwa belt. His experience in organisational politics and connections at the grassroots level are also being seen as factors behind the party leadership’s choice.
Several other Sikh leaders were reportedly under consideration for the position, including Jagmohan Raju, Manjit Singh Rai and Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu. However, Dhillon’s name appears to have secured broad backing within influential sections of the party.
The BJP is expected to focus heavily on rebuilding its cadre structure and strengthening local networks in Punjab over the next two years as it gears up for the high-stakes 2027 Assembly elections.
