Punjab BJP forms Manifesto, Chargesheet Committees for 2027 Assembly polls
Synopsis
With the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections firmly in its sights, the BJP has set up two key committees — a Manifesto panel under Avinash Rai Khanna and a Chargesheet panel under Sunil Jakhar — drawing in former ministers, MPs, and senior leaders. It is the party's first formal institutional step to mount a credible challenge in a state it was nearly wiped out of in 2022.
Key Takeaways
Punjab BJP President Kewal Singh Dhillon constituted two election committees on 15 November 2026 for the 2027 Punjab Assembly Elections .
Former state President Avinash Rai Khanna will chair the 13-member State Manifesto Committee .
Former MP Sunil Jakhar will chair the 14-member State Chargesheet Committee .
Committees include former ministers, former legislators, and senior MPs drawn from Punjab and the national level.
Dhillon indicated that additional committees will be announced in the coming days.
Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Kewal Singh Dhillon on Sunday, 15 November 2026, constituted the state's Manifesto Committee and Chargesheet Committee ahead of the Punjab Legislative Assembly Elections 2027, signalling the party's formal ground-level preparations for the high-stakes state polls. The move assigns key organisational responsibilities to senior party leaders drawn from both Punjab and the national level.
Manifesto Committee: Composition and Leadership
Former state President and former Rajya Sabha member Avinash Rai Khanna has been appointed Chairman of the 13-member State Manifesto Committee. The panel includes former ministers, former legislators, Members of Parliament, and senior party office-bearers, bringing together a broad cross-section of political experience to shape the BJP's election manifesto for 2027.
Members named to the committee include Manpreet Singh Badal, Ashwani Sharma, Manoranjan Kalia, Som Parkash, Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi, Ashwani Sekhri, Satnam Singh Sandhu, Raghav Chadha, Rajinder Gupta, Harbhajan Singh, Parampal Kaur, and H.S. Phoolka.
Chargesheet Committee: Composition and Leadership
Former state President and former Member of Parliament Sunil Jakhar has been named Chairman of the 14-member State Chargesheet Committee. This panel is tasked with a distinct responsibility — compiling a political chargesheet against the incumbent government in Punjab ahead of the elections.
Members of this committee include Iqbal Singh Lalpura, Vijay Sampla, Shwet Malik, Maharani Preneet Kaur, Ravneet Singh Bittu, Dinesh Babbu, Sushil Rinku, Geja Ram, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Ashok Mittal, Sandeep Pathak, S.S. Channi, and Jagmeet Singh Brar.
What the BJP Said
Announcing the appointments, Dhillon said that important responsibilities had been entrusted to senior party leaders in both committees, and that additional committees would be announced in the coming days. The constitution of these two panels is being viewed as a significant structural step in the BJP's campaign machinery ahead of 2027.
Why It Matters
The Punjab Assembly has 117 seats, and the 2022 elections saw the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) sweep to power with a landslide majority, leaving the BJP with minimal representation in the state. This is the party's first formal institutional push to build a credible challenger's platform for the next electoral cycle. Notably, the chargesheet committee's formation suggests the BJP intends to run a sharply adversarial campaign against the AAP government led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The inclusion of leaders with varied profiles — from former Union ministers to grassroots organisers — reflects an effort to broaden the party's appeal across Punjab's diverse constituencies.
More committees are expected to be announced in the days ahead as the BJP continues to structure its pre-poll outreach in the state.
Point of View
Built around indicting the AAP government rather than projecting its own governance record in the state. That framing is understandable given the party's near-wipeout in 2022, but it also reveals a structural weakness — the BJP lacks the incumbency advantage or strong local leadership that typically drives a comeback. The committee rosters, heavy on former legislators and national-level figures, raise a question mainstream coverage tends to skip: does the party have the grassroots cadre in Punjab to convert high-profile committees into actual vote mobilisation?
NationPress
15 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What committees has the Punjab BJP formed for the 2027 Assembly elections?
The Punjab BJP has constituted two committees — a State Manifesto Committee and a State Chargesheet Committee — to prepare for the 2027 Punjab Legislative Assembly Elections. Both were announced by state President Kewal Singh Dhillon on 15 November 2026.
Who is heading the Punjab BJP Manifesto Committee?
Former state President and former Rajya Sabha member Avinash Rai Khanna has been appointed Chairman of the 13-member State Manifesto Committee. The panel includes former ministers, legislators, and senior party office-bearers from Punjab.
Who is heading the Punjab BJP Chargesheet Committee?
Former state President and former Member of Parliament Sunil Jakhar is chairing the 14-member State Chargesheet Committee. The committee is tasked with building a political accountability record against the current Punjab government.
Why is the BJP forming these committees now?
Punjab Assembly elections are due in 2027, and the BJP suffered a heavy defeat in the 2022 polls. The early formation of manifesto and chargesheet committees signals the party is beginning structured preparations well in advance to rebuild its electoral presence in the state.
Will more committees be announced?
Yes. Punjab BJP President Kewal Singh Dhillon confirmed that a few more committees would be announced in the coming days, suggesting the organisational restructuring for the 2027 election cycle is still ongoing.
