Curious case of Sunil Jakhar resignation as Punjab BJP totters after poll blows

On his part, Jakhar maintained silence over reports about his resignation even as he remained active on social media. Then on October 17, Jakhar was even seen welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Chandigarh airport when he arrived for the oath-taking ceremony of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini, thereby dispelling doubts about his resignation momentarily.

On November 14, in an interaction with media persons, Jakhar confirmed for the first time that he had actually resigned — back in June in the wake of the Lok Sabha polls. He said he did so because the BJP could not win a single seat in Punjab in the parliamentary polls.

His social media posts have since continued on various issues.

In a video message on social media on Saturday, Jakhar said a strong opposition was needed to guard the interests of the masses in Punjab. Alleging that the Congress was hand in glove with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Punjab, he questioned “why no political party was talking about real issues” such as paddy procurement. “It is high time to fill this leadership vaccum created in the state,” he said.

The BJP leadership has neither commented on Jakhar’s resignation nor appointed a new state unit president so far.

A section in the Punjab BJP is said to be keen on Jakhar remaining in the post. However, several senior state party leaders have questioned their backing for Jakhar, saying that he had switched from the Congress to the BJP only in May 2022.

Anil Sarin, state BJP general secretary, said Jakhar is still the party chief and that he would be seen at the party meetings soon. “Jakhar saheb had offered his resignation after the Lok Sabha polls, but he is our president and we are working under his guidance. The BJP is an organisation-based party. Work goes on with or without the presence of anyone. If I am away for a few days, for example, the work will continue. Jakhar saheb is our president and he will be seen in public meetings soon. He had some personal engagements in the past,” Sarin said.

Vijay Rupani, who is the Punjab affairs in-charge of BJP also spoke similarly. “Sunil Jakhar has noy resigned yet. He is still our president. He was busy with personal engagements and will soon be seen at party meetings.” When asked about Jakhar’s resignation, Rupani said, “He said stated that he had considered it (resigning) as a sign of responsibility after the Lok Sabha results. However, party hasn’t even discussed it. He is still our president.”

After the results of the recent bypolls in Punjab, where the BJP did not win a single seat, Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu said the elections were fought without a party president. “Jakhar saheb could have presented issues differently before the public as a party president. Had Jakhar saheb led from the front, we could have won one or two seats… But I do not want to go into the issues which he is yet to clear with the high command.”

A senior Punjab BJP leader Sukhminderpal Singh Grewal said the timing of Jakhar’s announcement of his resignation was “incorrect”. “Sunil Jakhar kept quiet about his resignation news all these days. Then, six days ahead of the November 20 Assembly bypolls in Punjab, he made this announcement. It could have been a week later as well… The BJP gave Sunil Jakhar a respectable position in Punjab, but instead of fulfilling this responsibility, he probably tried to help other people in a secret manner.”

With the Punjab civic body polls due soon, BJP sources say there has been a “leadership crisis” in the state unit, adding that the party rank and file was waiting for directions from the leadership to start campaigning for it.