A ceremonial function was held to mark the occasion, during which prayers were offered and Dhillon officially took charge.
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Punjab BJP’s newly appointed state president, Kewal Singh Dhillon, formally assumed office on Wednesday, June 3, and declared that the party would work towards establishing a government in Punjab in 2027, inspired by the governance model of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, where all communities were treated equally.
A ceremonial function was held to mark the occasion, during which prayers were offered and Dhillon officially took charge. A portrait of Maharaja Ranjit Singh was also unveiled at the BJP office. Calling the day historic, Dhillon said the Maharaja’s rule was known for fairness and equal treatment of all sections of society and asserted that the BJP would seek to replicate those ideals if voted to power in Punjab.
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Later, a public gathering was organised at Law Bhawan in Sector 37, Chandigarh, attended by Nayab Singh Saini, former Punjab BJP chief Sunil Jakhar, BJP national vice-president Saudan Singh, BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh, national secretary Narendra Singh Raina, Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu and several senior party leaders and workers.
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Addressing the gathering, Dhillon said Punjab’s prosperity was closely linked to the well-being of its farmers and alleged that the ruling Aam Aadmi Party government had failed to fulfil its promises. He expressed confidence that the BJP would form the next government in the state in 2027. He highlighted Haryana’s procurement policies and welfare schemes, promising that a BJP government in Punjab would encourage crop diversification and provide assured support and procurement for alternative crops such as pulses and maize. He also raised concerns over drug abuse and the lack of focus on attracting high-technology industries, including semiconductor manufacturing, to the state.
Former state BJP chief Sunil Jakhar accused both the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and the Congress of disappointing the people of Punjab. Stressing Punjab’s tradition of communal harmony, he criticised attempts to divide society along religious and caste lines. Jakhar said he saw Dhillon first and foremost as a Punjabi rather than through the lens of religion. He also targeted the Bhagwant Mann government over governance issues, alleging delays in salaries and dearness allowance payments and questioning several recent administrative decisions.
Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu credited Jakhar for strengthening the party organisation and claimed that the BJP had emerged as a strong political force in Punjab. Referring to his own political journey, Bittu said he had spent years in public life without receiving opportunities that had now been provided by the BJP. He argued that Punjab required a “double-engine government” to accelerate development and asserted that the party possessed sufficient leadership strength to expand its footprint in the state.
BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh launched a sharp attack on the Punjab government, claiming that its countdown had begun. He alleged deterioration in law and order, citing attacks on police establishments, extortion threats and bomb blast incidents. Chugh also criticised the state government’s anti-drug campaign, alleging it had failed to deliver results, and reiterated that the BJP would seek to establish a governance model inspired by Maharaja Ranjit Singh if elected in 2027.
Punjab BJP working president Ashwani Sharma said the state was passing through a challenging phase and claimed that people were increasingly looking towards the BJP under the leadership of Narendra Modi. He accused both the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party of failing to meet public expectations and said voters would ultimately decide their fate.
Dhillon’s appointment is being viewed as a significant political move ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. A former Congress leader and ex-MLA, he becomes the first Jat Sikh to head the Punjab BJP. Party insiders believe the decision reflects the BJP’s effort to strengthen its appeal among Sikh voters and broaden its social base in the state.
However, the appointment has not been without criticism. Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, considered close to Dhillon, questioned the choice and said he did not believe Dhillon was the right person for the post. Amarinder also clarified that he had not recommended Dhillon’s name and suggested that replacing Jakhar was not the ideal organisational decision.
Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring mocked the BJP’s decision, alleging that the party was being forced to “outsource” leadership in Punjab by repeatedly appointing former Congress leaders to key positions. Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said he would reserve judgment on Dhillon’s appointment until he had observed his performance in the role.
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