After BJP national president’s election, spotlight shifts to Punjab unit and Sunil Jakhar

With the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections in sight, political focus is now on whether the BJP will continue with the current arrangement or make a strategic change.

After Nitin Nabin’s unopposed election as the BJP national president, attention has now firmly shifted to the party’s state units across the country, with Punjab drawing particular focus.

The reason is Sunil Jakhar. Appointed Punjab BJP president in July 2023, Jakhar submitted his resignation after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, in which the party failed to win a single seat in the state, but doubled the vote share compared to the 2019 Lok Sabha polls.

While reports about Jakhar’s resignation surfaced in September 2024, he admitted in November that he quit in June, soon after the Lok Sabha results. Despite this, the BJP’s national leadership never publicly acknowledged or acted on the resignation and continued to maintain that Jakhar was still the state president.

“With active participation in the state BJP’s activities, Jakhar officially is still the president, but yes, in the backdrop… that resignation talk is still there… Hence, after the election of the national president… now everyone wants to know what announcement the BJP will make regarding Punjab,” said a senior BJP leader on the condition of anonymity.

‘I will strike back even harder’ Amid this backdrop, Jakhar was in Delhi on Monday to participate in the election process to choose the Bharatiya Janata Party national president. According to the state BJP office, he will remain in Delhi, and attend national-level meetings at the party’s headquarters until January 22.

The tenure of a BJP state president is three years, meaning Jakhar’s term runs until July 2026. However, with the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections in sight, political focus is now on whether the party will continue with the current arrangement or make a strategic change.

Jakhar’s recent political messaging has further fuelled speculation. At the Maghi Mela conference on January 14, he concluded his speech by quoting Punjabi singer Labh Singh Hira. “I want to give a message to the opponents in Punjab… ‘jo karna kar le … vanjh barabar gadugan … te vanjh vadda gadunga’ (Do whatever you want; I will strike back equally, and I will strike back even harder).”

Two days later, on January 16, Jakhar led a BJP protest outside Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s residence, raising issues related to law and order and other state matters.

Even health concerns did little to slow him down. On Sunday, Jakhar was admitted to Fortis Hospital, Mohali, after complaining of chest pain and was discharged the same evening. By Monday, he was back in Delhi.

‘Double engine of Sunil Jakhar and Ashwani Sharma’

Adding another layer to the unfolding situation is the appointment of Pathankot MLA Ashwani Sharma as working president of the Punjab BJP on July 7, 2025.

Sharma earlier served two full terms as the Punjab BJP president. Since July, both leaders have been working in close coordination, signalling a possible dual leadership model.

“To bring a double-engine government to Punjab, perhaps this is exactly what the BJP needed. Now, within the BJP, the double engine of Sunil Jakhar and Ashwani Sharma seems unlikely to leave any stone unturned in turning the BJP’s vehicle into a bullet train. We are eagerly awaiting an announcement from the national headquarters regarding the state president… It can give more clarity,” said a BJP leader.

For now, Punjab BJP remains in wait-and-watch mode, with all eyes on the national leadership’s next move.

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