The political winds are shifting within the Punjab unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as the party is gearing up for a potential shake-up in its leadership. With the term of current state party president Sunil Jakhar set to conclude on July 11, speculation is rife about who will take the helm next. Among the top contenders are former Minister Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi, former MLA Kewal Singh Dhillon, and former MLA Fateh Jung Bajwa — all the former Congress leaders.
Insiders revealed that the party high command is less than pleased with Jakhar’s tenure, citing his failure to engage effectively with grassroots supporters — a key expectation when he was appointed to the pivotal role soon after joining the BJP. As the party grapples with internal dissatisfaction and prepares for the Jalandhar West bypoll on July 10, all eyes are on the forthcoming leadership decision.
Although numerous leaders are vying for the top position within the Punjab BJP, any decision regarding a change in state leadership is expected only after the upcoming bypoll.
“Several names are being considered, and discussions are ongoing about a change in leadership. Many leaders are also staking their claims, but nothing has been finalized yet. Any changes in state leadership will occur after the bypolls. Moreover, the parliamentary session is currently in progress, so no immediate moves are anticipated,” a senior party leader told The Pioneer.
The candidates being considered include former Congress leaders who have shifted their allegiance to the BJP in recent years. Senior party leader Jagmohan Singh Raju is also rumoured to be in the race for the post. The party high command may ultimately choose someone from within the organization.
“First, the national president or working president will be appointed, followed by changes at the state level,” explained another senior leader.
The senior BJP leader, who preferred to remain anonymous, expressed disappointment with Jakhar's performance. “He remained confined to media and press interactions but failed to connect at the grassroots level and party cadre, where the party’s real work is needed. The BJP couldn't secure even a single seat and lost from our strongholds of Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur,” the leader lamented.
BJP's Performance in Lok Sabha Elections
Despite holding power at the Centre, the BJP failed to win any seats in Punjab in the recently-concluded Lok Sabha elections. However, the party saw an increase in its vote share compared to the previous elections, surpassing even its former ally, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
For the first time, the BJP contested all seats in Punjab independently, raising its vote share from 9.63 percent in 2019 (when it contested only three seats in alliance with the SAD) to 18.56 percent. This vote share was five percent higher than that of SAD.
However, the BJP's journey was not without setbacks. Five candidates lost their security deposits: Manjit Singh Manna in Khadoor Sahib, Parampal Kaur Sidhu in Bathinda, Hans Raj Hans in Faridkot, Arvind Khanna in Sangrur, and Gejja Ram Valmiki in Fatehgarh Sahib.
Gains in Urban and Semi-Urban Segments
The BJP showed strength in 23 out of the 117 assembly segments. Analysis revealed that the BJP has emerged as a formidable force in at least 35 segments dominated by Hindu, urban, and semi-urban voters — including Abohar, Balluana, Jalandhar Central, Jalandhar North, Rajpura, Dera Bassi, Patiala, and various segments in Ludhiana and Amritsar.
The saffron party also performed well in areas with a significant Hindu vote bank, such as Nabha, Batala, Gurdaspur, and Moga. Even in Sikh-dominated seats like Khadoor Sahib, considered a Panthic seat, BJP candidate Manjit Manna secured more votes than SAD candidates in Patti, Kapurthala, Sultanpur Lodhi, and Baba Bakala assembly constituencies.
Strategic Response to Farmer Protests
The BJP’s internal assessment after the Lok Sabha polls revealed victories in semi-urban and small towns with a high presence of Hindu voters, such as Nakodar, Shahkot, Faridkot, and Kotkapura. While factors like the Ram Temple and “Modi magic” contributed to BJP's polarization, a significant factor was the anger against the farmer protests in Punjab.
As farmer unions continuously disrupted BJP candidates’ campaigns in rural areas, Jakhar-led BJP strategically targeted the business-dominated Hindu community. In the final week of campaigning, the BJP accused farmer unions of disrupting the state’s business and economy, aiming to garner support from affected communities.
Even though Jakhar’s supporters within the party claimed that the party managed to make a mark in the parliamentary polls in the State, the voices against him is gaining momentum, especially amidst the call of making all out efforts to strengthen its foothold in Punjab and better connect with its voter base.
