Manjinder Singh Sirsa’s entry into Delhi Cabinet creates ripples in Punjab

Soon after Sirsa’s appointment, Punjab Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira took to X, taking a swipe at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), “If BJP can give representation to a Sikh as Minister, I urge Arvind Kejriwal to clarify why he did not induct a Sikh as Minister during the 10 years of his government despite the fact that Sikhs besides being a minority community play a vital role in Delhi.”

Harjeet Singh Grewal, Member, National Executive Committee, BJP, told The Indian Express, “Punjab voters are watching each and every development very keenly and they are looking at how the BJP is giving representation to the Sikh voices in the Delhi government. In the absence of the Shiromani Akali Dal, the BJP outperformed in Delhi and Sikh voters directly connected with it… voters in Punjab are also connecting with the BJP gradually… And in the 2027 Punjab Assembly polls, its outcome will be visible to one and all.”

Punjab BJP spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal said, “Representation given to Sikhs in Delhi or Uttar Pradesh is definitely sending a strong message in Punjab. Sikhs of Delhi have many issues… Now they have a voice for them in the Vidhan Sabha. The BJP has done so many things for the community like opening the Kartarpur Sahib corridor and celebrating Veer Bal Diwas in Indian embassies, among other things. People in Punjab are watching everything and it will have a definite impact.”

Paramjit Singh Sarna, Delhi president of the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), however, said, “Sirsa’s appointment as cabinet minister in Delhi won’t have any impact in Punjab at all…”

The man at the centre of attention, Sirsa, himself was in the SAD not too long ago. He regularly shared the dais with SAD leader Sukhbir Singh Badal and the Late Parkash Singh Badal until December 2021.

Sirsa had won as an SAD candidate from Rajouri Garden in 2013 but lost the seat to AAP’s Jarnail Singh in 2015. In 2017, however, Jarnail Singh resigned from Rajouri Garden in order to contest from Lambi constituency in Punjab against Parkash Singh Badal. In the consequent bypoll held in Rajouri Garden in 2017, Sirsa won by over 14,000 votes. He had contested on the BJP symbol despite being in the SAD, as part of an alliance agreement between the two parties. Sirsa was elected as the president of the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee in 2013, 2017, and again in 2021. He even acted as an officer on special duty to the former Punjab Deputy CM Sukhbir Singh Badal. After switching to the BJP, he became the party’s national general secretary in August 2023.

“Almost all the top leadership of the SAD in Delhi switched to the BJP after Sirsa joined the party… Perhaps this was the reason for the SAD to stay away from Delhi polls this time. Earlier, they used to contest in alliance with the BJP on four seats – three on the BJP symbol and one on SAD symbol,” said a BJP leader on the condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, several organisational changes are on the cards in the Punjab BJP unit as the party’s state president Sunil Jakhar has submitted his resignation. Former BJP ally SAD is also battling infighting in Punjab, but only time will tell whether the saffron party can gain out of this political churning.