The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Punjab is poised to appoint a new state president, with announcements likely to come post the election of the national president in January 2025. The decision follows the reported resignation of the incumbent Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar in November 2024, and the party’s ongoing membership drive, which is considered a crucial process for the upcoming organizational elections.

Currently, the BJP has been unable to complete its membership drive due to simultaneous electoral events like the by-elections and municipal elections, delaying the party’s internal elections. As a result, the national president will likely nominate the new state chief. The election for the national president is expected to take place this month, and the decision about Punjab's leadership is expected to follow closely after that.

Vijay Rupani, party’s Punjab affairs in-charge and Gujarat’s former Chief Minister, presided over a high-level meeting at the BJP Punjab headquarters in Chandigarh with Jakhar conspicuous by his absence. The meeting primarily focused on the ‘Membership Campaign’, which is considered essential for strengthening the party’s organizational base in the state.

With Jakhar sticking to his decision to stay away from important party events and key meetings, Rupani made it clear that Jakhar is still the current president while, at the same time, emphasizing the need for a robust organization ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.

Jakhar had reportedly stepped down from the position of Punjab BJP chief in November, citing doubts over his continued leadership amidst ongoing internal discussions. Despite his resignation, Jakhar clarified that leadership was not an issue within the party, and he did not believe the question of leadership was a concern at that time. His resignation has not been accepted by the state leadership, but Jakhar has, since then, maintained a distance from the party. He even did not campaign for the party during assembly bypolls and the civic body polls.

Former Congress Leaders in Race for Punjab BJP Chief

Three prominent former Congress leaders are now at the forefront of discussions for replacing Jakhar as the state president. Among them, Manpreet Badal, the former Finance Minister, is said to have the backing of Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. Former Congress MLA and moneybag Kewal Dhillon is reportedly supported by Punjab BJP General Secretary (Organization) M Srinivasulu, while former Minister Rana Gurmeet Sodhi is backed by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri. Other senior BJP leaders, including Avinash Rai Khanna, Ashwani Sharma, Tarun Chugh, and Subhash Sharma, are also said to be in the running for the top position in the state.

While a section of party leaders are backing traditional BJP workers for the party’s top post in the state, some are backing the prominent and known faces, mostly former Congressmen.

BJP's Efforts to Strengthen its Footprint in Punjab

Following its breakup with SAD in 2020, the BJP has since been actively working to strengthen its presence in Punjab. The party’s efforts have already shown positive results in 2024, as its vote share surged from 9.65 percent in 2019 Lok Sabha elections to 18.56. Despite not winning any seats in the 13 constituencies of Punjab, the BJP has witnessed an increase in its vote share, fueled by the entry of several prominent Congress leaders into its fold.

Rupani, during the meeting, stressed the importance of membership growth for the party, with an eye on the 2027 Assembly elections. He emphasized the party’s commitment to following democratic principles and expanding its organizational strength, as evidenced by its growing membership, which now exceeds 150 million nationwide. “We are committed to strengthening our organization and will fight the 2027 Punjab elections on the strength of our membership and organizational framework,” Rupani said.

Rupani addressed the ongoing leadership transition in Punjab, affirming that Jakhar’s resignation had prompted a thorough reorganization within the state unit. However, as of now, Jakhar remains the party's state chief until the new appointment is made.