BJP rejected in Punjab, says Cheema after Saini's Dhuri rally flops
Synopsis
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini's rally in Dhuri — Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's own constituency — drew rows of empty chairs, and Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema wasted no time turning it into a political indictment. The optics were damaging for the BJP: a senior Haryana leader venturing into AAP's stronghold only to address an absent crowd, handing the ruling party a ready-made narrative about the BJP's irrelevance in Punjab.
Key Takeaways
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema said on 7 June that the BJP has no place in Punjab.
Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini's public meeting in Dhuri — CM Bhagwant Mann's home constituency — reportedly drew very poor attendance.
Cheema cited the deaths of more than 750 farmers during the farm law protests as a reason Punjabis cannot forgive the BJP.
He accused the BJP of being 'anti-farmer and anti-Punjab,' alleging the party has sought to deprive Punjab of its water rights.
The BJP is yet to formally respond to Cheema's allegations.
Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema on Sunday, 7 June declared that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has no foothold left in Punjab, citing the thin turnout at Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini's public meeting in Dhuri — the home constituency of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann — as evidence of the party's wholesale rejection by Punjabis.
The Dhuri Rally and Its Fallout
Cheema was pointed in his assessment of Saini's visit. 'The Haryana Chief Minister came to Punjab to address a public meeting, but instead of people, he was welcomed by rows of empty chairs,' Cheema said. 'He returned after addressing those empty chairs, which clearly shows that there is no place left for the BJP in the hearts of the people of Punjab.'
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader added that BJP leaders may continue making visits to the state, but the 'aware and conscious people of Punjab will never accept the party.'
Farm Laws and the Farmer Martyrs
Cheema invoked the memory of the farm law agitation to underscore what he described as the BJP's anti-farmer character. 'Every child in Punjab knows that the BJP is the same cruel party that, in its arrogance, was responsible for the sacrifice of more than 750 annadatas of Punjab,' he said.
He was referring to farmers who died during the prolonged protest movement that ultimately forced the Centre to repeal the three contentious farm laws. 'The people of Punjab can never forget the sacrifice of those martyred farmer brothers, nor can they ever forgive the BJP for the atrocities committed against farmers,' Cheema added.
Allegations of Anti-Punjab Stance
The Finance Minister broadened his attack beyond farm policy, accusing the BJP of systematically working against Punjab's interests. 'The BJP is not only anti-farmer but also anti-Punjab. This is the same party that has always wanted to rob Punjab of its waters and has constantly remained on the lookout to snatch away Punjab's rights,' Cheema alleged.
He further charged that the party 'has repeatedly treated Punjab unfairly and has also damaged the country's economy through its wrong policies.' The BJP is yet to formally respond to these specific allegations.
Political Context
Saini's rally in Dhuri carries symbolic weight: it is the constituency that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann won comfortably in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, which delivered AAP a landslide majority. The BJP's decision to hold a meeting there was widely read as a provocative outreach in hostile territory ahead of future electoral cycles.
Punjab has historically been a difficult state for the BJP, particularly after the farm law protests of 2020–21. The party has struggled to rebuild its support base in the state ever since. With assembly elections not immediately due, Sunday's rally and the AAP counter-offensive signal that political temperatures in Punjab are already rising.
Point of View
But Cheema's remarks are as much about consolidating AAP's base as they are about the BJP's actual standing. The farm law grievance remains the most durable weapon in Punjab's anti-BJP arsenal — invoking 750 farmer deaths ensures the attack lands on an emotional register, not just a policy one. What mainstream coverage often misses is that the BJP's Punjab problem is structural: the party lacks a credible state-level face and a farmers' outreach that goes beyond optics. Saini's visit, rather than projecting strength, may have underscored precisely that vacuum. The real question is whether AAP can sustain this narrative momentum into the next electoral cycle, or whether governance fatigue begins to blunt its edge.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema criticise the BJP on 7 June 2025?
Cheema criticised the BJP after Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini's public rally in Dhuri, Punjab reportedly drew very poor attendance. He said the near-empty venue was proof that Punjabis have completely rejected the BJP.
Where is Dhuri and why does it matter politically?
Dhuri is a constituency in Punjab's Sangrur district and is the home seat of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, who won it in the 2022 assembly elections. The BJP's choice to hold a rally there was seen as a direct challenge to AAP on its own turf.
What are the farm law protests Cheema referred to?
Cheema referred to the 2020–21 farmer agitation against three central farm laws, during which more than 750 farmers died, according to protest organisers. The laws were eventually repealed by the Centre in November 2021 after sustained protests.
What specific allegations did Cheema make against the BJP beyond farm policy?
Cheema alleged that the BJP has sought to deprive Punjab of its river waters and has consistently acted against the state's interests, including damaging the national economy through what he called 'wrong policies.' The BJP has not yet formally responded to these charges.
How has the BJP fared in Punjab in recent elections?
The BJP performed poorly in the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, which AAP won with a landslide majority. The party has struggled to recover ground in Punjab since the farm law protests, which severely damaged its image among the state's dominant farming community.
