BJP names Congress turncoat Kewal Dhillon as Punjab chief ahead of 2027 polls
The BJP has appointed Kewal Singh Dhillon as president of its Punjab unit. The move signals a push to widen Sikh outreach before the 2027 Assembly elections.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has appointed former Barnala MLA Kewal Singh Dhillon as the new president of its Punjab unit, signalling a strategic push to strengthen its outreach among Sikh voters ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
Dhillon, a prominent Jat Sikh leader and close associate of former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, is expected to play a key role in reshaping the BJP’s political strategy in the state. Party insiders believe his appointment reflects the BJP’s attempt to project a more inclusive image and deepen its connection with the Sikh community in Punjab.
The BJP on Wednesday also announced a fresh round of organisational appointments in several states as part of its restructuring exercise ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. Union Minister and East Delhi MP Harsh Malhotra was appointed the new Delhi BJP chief, while Dr Archana Gupta was named Haryana BJP president and Abhishek Debroy was appointed chief of the party’s Tripura unit.
Sources said the changes were approved by the party’s national leadership with a focus on strengthening regional leadership, caste and community outreach, and organisational preparedness before crucial state polls.
The development also comes as the three-year term of current Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar is set to conclude in July. Although Jakhar is stepping down from the organisational post, sources said he will remain actively involved in the party’s campaign planning and election strategy for the upcoming Assembly elections.
Within the BJP, there had reportedly been growing support for appointing a Sikh face to lead the Punjab unit. BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh is understood to have strongly backed the move. Sources also indicated that RSS Punjab in-charge Srinivaslu and Nayab Singh Saini were supportive of Dhillon’s candidature.
Born in Tallewal village of Barnala district, Dhillon served as MLA of Barnala between 2007 and 2017 before losing to AAP leader Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer. He joined the BJP in June 2022 along with several former Congress leaders after the party’s defeat in the Punjab Assembly elections and was later appointed vice-president of the Punjab BJP unit.
Party leaders believe Dhillon’s organisational experience and political network, particularly in the Malwa region, could help the BJP expand its presence in Punjab ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Bharatiya Janata Party has appointed former Barnala MLA Kewal Singh Dhillon as the new president of its Punjab unit, signalling a strategic push to strengthen its outreach among Sikh voters ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
Dhillon, a prominent Jat Sikh leader and close associate of former Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh, is expected to play a key role in reshaping the BJP’s political strategy in the state. Party insiders believe his appointment reflects the BJP’s attempt to project a more inclusive image and deepen its connection with the Sikh community in Punjab.
The BJP on Wednesday also announced a fresh round of organisational appointments in several states as part of its restructuring exercise ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. Union Minister and East Delhi MP Harsh Malhotra was appointed the new Delhi BJP chief, while Dr Archana Gupta was named Haryana BJP president and Abhishek Debroy was appointed chief of the party’s Tripura unit.
Sources said the changes were approved by the party’s national leadership with a focus on strengthening regional leadership, caste and community outreach, and organisational preparedness before crucial state polls.
The development also comes as the three-year term of current Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar is set to conclude in July. Although Jakhar is stepping down from the organisational post, sources said he will remain actively involved in the party’s campaign planning and election strategy for the upcoming Assembly elections.
Within the BJP, there had reportedly been growing support for appointing a Sikh face to lead the Punjab unit. BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh is understood to have strongly backed the move. Sources also indicated that RSS Punjab in-charge Srinivaslu and Nayab Singh Saini were supportive of Dhillon’s candidature.
Born in Tallewal village of Barnala district, Dhillon served as MLA of Barnala between 2007 and 2017 before losing to AAP leader Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer. He joined the BJP in June 2022 along with several former Congress leaders after the party’s defeat in the Punjab Assembly elections and was later appointed vice-president of the Punjab BJP unit.
Party leaders believe Dhillon’s organisational experience and political network, particularly in the Malwa region, could help the BJP expand its presence in Punjab ahead of the 2027 elections.
