Sunil Jakhar Resigns as Punjab BJP Chief Ahead of Panchayat Elections

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In a significant political development, Sunil Jakhar has resigned as the president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Punjab, just over a year after his appointment to the role. Sources from India TV indicate that his resignation comes at a crucial time, as the state BJP prepares for the upcoming panchayat elections scheduled for October 15.

Jakhar’s absence from a pivotal meeting aimed at finalizing the party’s strategy for the elections has raised eyebrows and fueled speculation about his dissatisfaction with the party’s internal dynamics. While the BJP initially denied rumors of his resignation, no official statement has been released to clarify the situation.

Party insiders have revealed that Jakhar has been expressing discontent for some time regarding the party’s operations and has communicated his reluctance to continue in the role. “He has offered to step down, but the party advised him to remain until the next election for the post, likely in December, and he agreed to that advice,” said a senior BJP leader.

Rumors of internal discord intensified when Jakhar opted to skip a meeting he had called to discuss the party’s ongoing membership drive. Sources suggest that his absence was interpreted as a protest against the party’s leadership, although Jakhar has recently returned from a month-long trip abroad.

To counter the swirling rumors, senior Punjab BJP leader Harjit Singh Grewal publicly denied reports of Jakhar’s resignation. He stated that he met with Jakhar just days prior and found no indication of his intention to resign. Grewal emphasized that Jakhar’s absence from the meeting was due to personal commitments and should not be seen as a sign of disappointment with the party’s central leadership.

Jakhar, who previously served as a prominent Congress leader in Punjab, joined the BJP in May 2022, following the Congress party’s defeat in the state assembly elections. His appointment as state unit president in July 2023 marked a significant shift in the BJP’s strategy to strengthen its presence in Punjab.

The timing of Jakhar’s resignation, amid a critical election period, raises questions about the BJP’s leadership stability and its strategy in Punjab as it seeks to gain ground in a state traditionally dominated by the Congress party.

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