Punjab battle heats up: BJP picks Poonia as in-charge, Cong weighs organisational overhaul

While the BJP seems to have selected Rajasthan leader and the party’s Haryana in-charge, Satish Poonia, to oversee Punjab affairs for the upcoming Assembly elections, the Congress too appears to be putting finishing touches to the much-awaited organisational reshuffle in the crucial poll-bound state.

According to party sources, the Congress is in the final stages of effecting a broader organisational restructuring, which would include changes in Punjab. “The delay in announcing the organisational overhaul in Punjab is linked to changes at the national level. The Punjab rejig is tied to a broader organisational rejig, which includes the possible replacement of AICC general secretary in-charge for Punjab, Bhupesh Baghel, and Rajasthan Congress in-charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. Baghel is expected to return to Chhattisgarh politics,” they added.

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Former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Randhawa is said to be the leading contender for the post of the state Congress chief, with Vijay Inder Singla and Charanjit Singh Channi following closely. The sources say that the Congress does not want to ignore Hindu leadership after AAP appointed Aman Arora as its Punjab chief. However, whatever roles the state leaders get, no one will be projected as the chief ministerial face.

As far as the BJP is concerned, there are multiple reasons why the saffron leadership has chosen Poonia as the in-charge for the poll-bound state. The first is his image as a leader who delivers. He was the BJP’s Haryana in-charge when the party scored a hat-trick in the 2024 Assembly elections. However, the move is also linked to reports of discontent among some long-serving leaders over the appointment of Kewal Singh Dhillon as the Punjab BJP chief.

According to sources, Poonia has been asked to hold discussions with senior leaders to ensure balanced representation of both the old guard and those who have joined the party recently. He will submit a report, on the basis of which the new Punjab BJP team will be announced.

“Along with Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, who is playing a major role in Punjab, Poonia too has been brought in to energise the rank and file and get it battle-ready for the 2027 elections,” they said. Meanwhile, with party president Nitin Nabin in the process of building his team, a formal announcement of Poonia’s appointment is expected soon.