Speculations of Punjab state president Sunil Jakhar’s resignation amid political discontent
- In Reports
- 10:51 PM, Sep 27, 2024
- Myind Staff
Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar has reportedly resigned ahead of the panchayat elections scheduled for October 15, although there has been no official confirmation of this development. Jakhar has not been responsive to calls, and his personal assistant, Sanjeev Trika, stated that “there is nothing like this,” emphasising that Jakhar has simply been busy and less active recently. However, sources within the BJP high command have confirmed that Jakhar has expressed his unwillingness to continue as state party president, citing his inability to work freely in the state.
Following the Lok Sabha elections, Jakhar had significantly reduced his involvement in state politics. His last public appearance was on September 3 at a BJP state meeting in Chandigarh, which launched the party’s membership drive.
Jakhar had previously resigned from the Congress in May 2022, where he served as the state president, before joining the BJP later that same month. By July 4, 2022, he was appointed as the Punjab president of the BJP.
There has been growing discontent within the BJP, as long-standing members reportedly expressed dissatisfaction with the influx of former Congress leaders into the party and their subsequent appointments to key positions. “We will not allow Congressis to infiltrate the BJP,” stated a senior party leader.
Rumours have emerged regarding strained relations between Jakhar and Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu, as well as with BJP leader Rana Sodhi, who lost the Ferozepur Lok Sabha seat in 2024. Both Jakhar and Sodhi were former members of the Congress. Jakhar’s absence from a BJP state body meeting on Thursday, which focused on the membership drive in Chandigarh, has further fuelled speculation about his resignation.
While many BJP leaders have been actively campaigning in Haryana and Jammu and Kashmir, Jakhar has been notably absent from these efforts.
Anil Sarin, the BJP’s state general secretary, dismissed the reports of Jakhar’s resignation as “completely baseless.” He stated, “Jakhar did not attend yesterday’s meeting, but it wasn’t mandatory for him to do so. He has no differences with anyone in the party, and everything is fine.” In contrast, BJP state vice-president Harjeet Singh Grewal chose not to comment in detail, saying only, “Everything will be alright soon.”
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