Veteran leader Sunil Jakhar has made a decisive return to the Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) forefront as the saffron party gears up for the crucial by-elections to four assembly seats in Punjab. After months of remaining out of the public eye, Jakhar has been positioned as the driving force behind the BJP’s campaign, effectively silencing speculation about his resignation and discontent with the party’s leadership. His reappearance marks a key moment, especially considering his previous dissatisfaction with the party’s handling of Punjab’s pressing issues, particularly those affecting the farmers.
Punjab BJP’s newly-released 28-second campaign video offered a glimpse into Jakhar’s pivotal role, as it prominently featured him alongside the Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The video, showcasing both leaders in various frames with party workers and supporters, sends a clear signal that Jakhar is back in the fold and prepared to steer the party’s efforts in the bypolls. This marked a significant shift, given the earlier rumours of his fallout with the party over slew of issues.
Jakhar, Punjab BJP president, had been noticeably absent from political activities for over two months, fueling speculations about his future in the party. However, with the release of the campaign video, which carries the tagline “Baaki Gallan Chhado, Punjab Di Gal Zaroori Hai” (Forget everything else, Punjab’s issues are important), Jakhar has re-emerged as a crucial leader for the BJP in the State.
“If you want to save Punjab, you must make BJP win,” read the caption of the video clip, which has the shots of Prime Minister Modi, donning a ‘turban’, alongside Jakhar’s — signaling the strong bond between the two. No other BJP leader has been featured in the video — emphasizing important the saffron party has given to Jakhar.
That is not all! Jakhar, on Wednesday only, further solidified his return by expressing gratitude to the Prime Minister for extending the Kartarpur Corridor agreement with Pakistan for another five years. This move is expected to resonate well with the voters in Punjab, where the corridor holds cultural and religious significance, especially in Dera Baba Nanak constituency.
Notably, Jakhar’s public comeback began during PM Modi’s visit to Chandigarh on October 17, where he was seen receiving the Prime Minister at the airport alongside several NDA leaders. Jakhar also attended the swearing-in ceremony of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini at Panchkula, and later participated in a joint meeting of NDA Chief Ministers and Deputy Chief Ministers, personally welcoming all leaders.
According to the party insiders, PM Modi personally encouraged Jakhar to take a more prominent role in the bypolls during this visit. This followed earlier discussions in which Jakhar met with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national president JP Nadda to address his concerns about the party’s handling of key issues in Punjab. Despite these high-level meetings, Jakhar had remained on the sidelines, maintaining his distance from party activities, including the recent panchayat elections.
Previously, there had been reports that Jakhar had resigned from his position as state BJP president after the Lok Sabha elections, and he had been notably absent from several key party meetings. His prolonged absence had led to speculation that his political future within the BJP was uncertain. However, with his renewed presence and active involvement in the bypoll campaign, it is evident that Jakhar has reasserted his leadership and is now poised to lead the BJP’s charge in Punjab.
As the BJP rallies behind Jakhar, his ability to address the concerns of Punjab’s farming community and navigate the state’s political complexities will be crucial in determining the party’s success in the upcoming by-elections. All eyes are now on the seasoned politician to see how his leadership will shape the party’s fortunes in Punjab.
