BJP has started a major organisational exercise in Punjab as it prepares to announce a new state executive under newly appointed Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon and the party is trying to build a balanced leadership team while also addressing internal differences before upcoming Punjab Assembly elections. To align with the vision of expansion BJP has appointed Haryana in-charge Satish Poonia as an observer and his responsibility is to meet senior leaders and office-bearers across Punjab, understand their views, assess current situation inside the party and submit a report to BJP high command.
According to party leaders, Poonia has already started holding meetings with senior leaders and is expected to complete the consultation process soon and based on his report BJP high command is likely to announce new Punjab executives very soon. Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon confirmed the development and said that the new state team is expected to be announced within the next seven to ten days.
The exercise comes at a time when there have been reports of dissatisfaction among some BJP leaders following Dhillon's appointment as the new Punjab BJP chief.
Dhillon, a former Congress MLA, joined the BJP in 2022. He recently replaced Sunil Jakhar as Punjab BJP president and became party's first Jat Sikh state president in Punjab and according to party leaders although Dhillon shares good relations with most leaders BJP leadership wants to ensure that every important section of the party is consulted before new executive is formed and the aim is to avoid any feeling of neglect and to send a message that all stakeholders have been heard.
Sources and party insiders say that like several other political parties BJP in Punjab is also dealing with internal groupings and over the past few years many leaders from different political parties have joined BJP making it necessary for the leadership to balance the interests of various sections within the organisation. According to sources, one group mainly consists of leaders who joined the BJP after leaving the Congress and this group includes leaders such as Kewal Singh Dhillon, Sunil Jakhar and Ravneet Singh Bittu. Another group is made up of long-time BJP leaders who have been associated with the party for many years. Senior leaders such as Ashwani Sharma, Avinash Rai Khanna and several other BJP members are considered part of this section. Apart from these two groups there are also leaders who joined BJP after leaving Akali Dal and other political parties over the years.
Sources say that bringing all these groups together under one organisational structure is one of biggest challenges before BJP leadership and every group has experienced leaders and expects adequate representation in the new state executive. According to party insiders this is one of the main reasons why BJP has asked Satish Poonia to consult leaders from across the state before the final team is announced.
Sources further say that Poonia is also expected to submit a detailed assessment of the internal organisational situation in Punjab. His report is likely to help the party leadership decide which leaders should be given important responsibilities in the new executive.
BJP is also looking beyond immediate organisational changes and according to sources the party is working on a long-term strategy to strengthen its presence in Punjab over the next 10 to 15 years. As part of this strategy, the party wants to gradually reshape its organisational structure by giving opportunities to new faces while maintaining a balance with experienced leaders. Sources say BJP wants more young leaders and women to come forward and take important organisational responsibilities and the party believes that wider participation from different sections of society is important for strengthening its organisation in Punjab.
Party insiders say discussions are taking place for several organisational posts, and different leaders are being considered for different responsibilities and according to sources, the party is likely to ensure representation from multiple social groups. Leaders belonging to the Jat Sikh, Hindu and Dalit communities, along with women and youth leaders, are expected to find representation in the new organisational setup.
Sources say this balancing exercise is being carried out carefully as the BJP wants every major section of the party to feel represented. Party insiders describe the ongoing exercise as a major social engineering effort. According to them, the BJP leadership is trying to build an organisation that reflects different communities, age groups and political backgrounds while maintaining unity within the party. Leaders believe that balancing these different groups will be important as the BJP prepares for future political battles in Punjab.