Amid swirling rumours and rising political tensions, the Punjab unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) finds itself at a crossroads, with reports suggesting that the state party president Sunil Jakhar may be considering resignation. While the BJP has dismissed these claims as “baseless” and mere speculation, the atmosphere within the saffron party seems fraught, with upcoming panchayat elections and the larger political landscape in the background.
Jakhar’s journey within the BJP has been marked by both successes and struggles, and the latest developments underscore the challenges he faces as a leader in Punjab. His tenure as the state party chief, which began in July 2023, has been short yet impactful. Despite BJP’s inability to secure any seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in Punjab, Jakhar’s leadership contributed to a significant increase in the party’s vote share from nine percent in 2019 to 18 percent in 2024. However, the internal dynamics of the BJP in Punjab, combined with Jakhar’s dissatisfaction with certain decisions and leadership styles, seem to have led to his current predicament.
The resignation “rumours” have caused a stir not only within the BJP but also in rival political camps. Jakhar has reportedly expressed his desire to step down — not just this time but reportedly couple of times in the past, citing internal discord and dissatisfaction with the functioning of the party in Punjab. Party insiders revealed that Jakhar had first hinted at resigning after the Jalandhar by-election in July, and more recently, during a meeting with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he expressed his intent once again. However, every time, he was asked to continue.
As Jakhar’s one-year term concluded in July, internal jockeying for the party’s leadership gained momentum, with several hopefuls actively lobbying in the national capital to secure the top position. Despite the mounting pressure from various contenders, the BJP high command remained firm in its decision to retain Jakhar at the helm.
With ‘discontented’ Jakhar once again offering to step down, the BJP leadership has refuted these claims. Punjab BJP general secretary Anil Sarin on Friday dismissed the rumours, stating unequivocally, “Sunil Jakhar has not resigned, and there is no such indication. These are just baseless speculations.” Sarin emphasized that Jakhar continues to work with the party and that there is no internal crisis as reported.
Despite these assurances, the buzz surrounding Jakhar’s potential resignation has intensified following his absence from a key party meeting in Chandigarh on Thursday, which was convened to discuss strategies for the upcoming panchayat elections. Sources within the party suggested that Jakhar deliberately chose not to attend the meeting, signaling his growing dissatisfaction. Nonetheless, BJP officials downplayed his absence, insisting that it is not mandatory for the state president to attend every meeting.
The root cause of Jakhar’s frustration, according to party insiders, lies in his dissatisfaction with the internal workings of the BJP’s Punjab unit. Jakhar, a veteran leader who had previously served in the Congress for five long decades before joining the BJP in 2022, is reportedly disillusioned with how certain factions within the party have attempted to undermine his authority. He is also said to be unhappy with the BJP's leadership decisions, particularly in relation to appointments and electoral strategies. Sources close to Jakhar indicated that his discontent grew following the decision to appoint Ravneet Singh Bittu, a former Congress MP who lost his Lok Sabha seat in 2024 general elections, to a Union Cabinet role. This, along with other internal dynamics, has reportedly led Jakhar to feel sidelined within the party.
Jakhar’s potential departure, if it materializes, would leave the Punjab BJP in a precarious position, especially with the upcoming panchayat elections on October 15, besides the impending byelections to at least five assembly seats. The elections are critical for the BJP as they offer a chance to regain its ground in the state following the party’s disappointing performance in the Lok Sabha elections. The party has called a meeting on September 30, chaired by BJP’s party affairs in-charge for Punjab, Vijay Rupani, to address political strategies for these elections and ongoing political activities in the state.
