Punjab BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon to assume charge on June 3 in Chandigarh
Synopsis
The BJP's decision to hand Punjab's party reins to Kewal Singh Dhillon — a former Congress MLA who has lost two BJP elections — is less about rewarding loyalty and more about deploying a Jat Sikh face in a Sikh-majority state ahead of 2027. The June 3 charge-taking ceremony in Chandigarh is where that calculated identity pivot becomes official.
Key Takeaways
Kewal Singh Dhillon will formally assume charge as Punjab BJP president on 3 June in Chandigarh .
Dhillon, 75 , was appointed on 28 May , replacing Sunil Jakhar as the party's state chief.
He is a Jat Sikh leader, chosen to project a Sikh face in Sikh-dominated Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections .
Dhillon was a Congress MLA from Barnala from 2007–2017 before joining BJP in June 2022 .
He has lost two BJP elections — the Sangrur Lok Sabha by-election (2022) and the Barnala Assembly bypoll (2024) .
Kewal Singh Dhillon, the newly appointed president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s Punjab unit, will formally assume charge at a ceremony in Chandigarh on 3 June, party General Secretary Anil Sarin said on Monday. The event marks the beginning of a new organisational chapter for the BJP in Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
What the Charge-Taking Ceremony Will Look Like
The formal induction event is expected to draw a large cross-section of the party's leadership. Attendees are likely to include former state presidents, national office-bearers, Union ministers, Members of Parliament, Members of the Legislative Assembly, former ministers, district presidents, and representatives from the party's various organisational wings.
According to an official party statement, the gathering will also serve as an occasion for leaders and workers from across the state to reaffirm their commitment to the party's ideology, organisational growth, and vision for Punjab's development.
Why the BJP Picked Dhillon
The BJP appointed Dhillon, 75, as state president on 28 May, replacing Sunil Jakhar — the party's prominent Hindu face in Punjab. Political observers note that the move is a calculated shift in strategy: by elevating a Jat Sikh face, the BJP is seeking to broaden its appeal in a state where Sikhs form the dominant demographic ahead of the 2027 state polls.
Notably, this is not a straightforward rise through BJP ranks. Dhillon served as a Congress legislator from Barnala from 2007 to 2017, before losing his seat to Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)'s Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer — now an AAP Member of Parliament. Dhillon crossed over to the BJP in June 2022 along with other Congress leaders following the party's rout in the state Assembly elections.
A Record of Electoral Setbacks
Since joining the BJP, Dhillon has contested two elections and lost both. He was defeated in the Sangrur Lok Sabha by-election in 2022 and again in the Barnala Assembly bypoll in 2024, both on a BJP ticket. His appointment as state chief despite these losses signals that the party is prioritising community optics over electoral track record as it rebuilds its Punjab organisation.
What This Means for BJP's Punjab Strategy
The BJP has struggled to establish an independent foothold in Punjab, historically relying on alliance partnerships. With the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) no longer a partner, the party is under pressure to cultivate its own Sikh voter base. Dhillon's elevation is part of that recalibration — a bet on identity politics to make inroads in a state where the BJP has never won a majority on its own. All eyes will now be on how Dhillon uses his new platform to expand the party's grassroots connect before the 2027 contest.
Point of View
Not electoral. With SAD gone as an ally, the BJP needs its own Sikh vote bank, and Dhillon's Jat Sikh identity is the instrument. The deeper question is whether a community face without a grassroots win can actually build the kind of organisational depth the party needs in 117 constituencies. Punjab has consistently punished parties that substitute identity signalling for ground-level work — the AAP wave of 2022 being the most recent proof.
NationPress
24 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
When will Kewal Singh Dhillon formally take charge as Punjab BJP president?
Dhillon will formally assume charge at a ceremony in Chandigarh on 3 June. The event is expected to be attended by senior BJP leaders, Union ministers, MPs, MLAs, and party workers from across Punjab.
Why was Kewal Singh Dhillon appointed as Punjab BJP president?
Dhillon was appointed on 28 May to project a Jat Sikh face in Sikh-dominated Punjab, replacing Sunil Jakhar. Political observers say the move is part of the BJP's strategy to build its own Sikh voter base ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, particularly after its alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal ended.
What is Kewal Singh Dhillon's political background?
Dhillon served as a Congress MLA from Barnala from 2007 to 2017, losing his seat to AAP's Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer. He joined the BJP in June 2022 following Congress's defeat in the Punjab Assembly elections, and has since lost two BJP-ticket elections — the Sangrur Lok Sabha by-election in 2022 and the Barnala Assembly bypoll in 2024.
Who did Dhillon replace as Punjab BJP president?
Dhillon replaced Sunil Jakhar, the party's prominent Hindu face in Punjab. The leadership change reflects the BJP's shift toward a Sikh-centric outreach strategy in the state.
What are the BJP's goals in Punjab ahead of 2027?
The BJP aims to strengthen its organisational presence and expand its connect with Sikh voters, having lost its traditional alliance partner Shiromani Akali Dal. Dhillon's appointment signals a push to build an independent voter base across Punjab's 117 Assembly constituencies before the 2027 state polls.
