Sunil Jakhar resigns: The woos of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to establish its political hold in Punjab does not seem to end. While parties like AAP and Congress are bracing up for the upcoming Punjab Panchayat Polls 2024, the saffron party may have been dealing a major dent amid reports that Sunil Jakhar has resigned as Punjab BJP Chief. Multiple sources have confirmed Sunil Jakhar Resignation reports, however, the veteran leader has yet to issue any statement over this. 'Sunil Jakhar Resigns' reports started after he did not attend the party's high-level meeting on the upcoming Punjab Panchayat Elections 2024. Multiple sources confirmed that Sunil Jakhar had tendered his resignation from the BJP Chief post to JP Nadda two to three months back. However, the party high command did not accept his resignation. BJP on the other hand have denied that Sunil Jakhar has tendered his resignation as Punjab BJP Chief.
Why Sunil Jakhar is not happy as Punjab BJP Chief?
Sunil Jakhar Resignation Reason or why Sunil Jakhar is not happy: Multiple factors are popping up as the reasons why Sunil Jakhar is not happy . For the unversed, Sunil Jakhar joined the BJP in May 2022, and following that he was given the responsibility to head the BJP Punjab unit, especially with Lok Sabha Elections 2024 in the backdrop.
Talking about Sunil Jakhar Resignation reason or why Sunil Jakhar is not happy with the party, sources in the known development suggest that the veteran leader faced non-cooperation within the party. It is said that there are two to three groups active within the BJP party who were not happy with Jakhar leading the saffron party in Punjab. One group consists of party leaders who are close confidante of BJP leader Kamal Sharma. Although BJP leader Kamal Sharma passed away in 2019, his group is still active.
The second group consists of leaders who are close confidante of BJP leader Ashwini Sharma. Ashwini Sharma is also a former BJP State President of the Punjab unit. Sources suggest that both groups were not cooperating with Sunil Jakhar. As a result, Jakhar was finding it difficult to run the party smoothly in the state. Furthermore, sources suggest that another lobby within the party were pushing an agenda saying that Jakhar does not have an RSS background. Therefore, Jakhar did not get the support of 90 percent of the BJP leaders in Punjab. He was running the party with the support of Congress leaders who joined the BJP.
How much BJP can suffer if Sunil Jakhar resigns?
Under Sunil Jakhar's leadership, the BJP witnessed an increase in vote percentage for the first time i.e. around 18%. However, the credit for this reportedly went to Ravneet Bittu. Ravneet Bittu was inducted into the Modi Cabinet in his third term. Currently, Ravneet Bittu is a Union Minister of State. Sources suggest that when Jakhar met PM Modi, he informed him that he is not happy with the party's working in Punjab. Jakhar who remains quite active on social media last posted on PM Modi's birthday which was on September 17. Following that Jakhar went in silent mode.
Sources suggest that despite Jakhar's talks with PM Modi, the High Command did not take it seriously. Following that Jakhar offered his resignation. but the High Command did not accept it.
It is pertinent to mention here that Sunil Jakhar is among the prominent and senior leaders of Punjab. His father was Balram Jakhar, a prominent Indian politician of the Congress party, who served as the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and founded the Bharatiya Krishak Samaj, a farmers' organization. Sunil Jakhar's nephew is Sandeep Jakhar who is also an MLA. However, Congress last year suspended Abohar MLA Sandeep Jakhar from the party for allegedly indulging in “anti-party activities”, including defending his uncle and BJP’s Punjab unit chief Sunil Jakhar and staying at an accommodation on which “BJP flag flies atop”.
BJP denies Sunil Jakhar's resignation
The BJP on Friday denied rumours about the resignation of Sunil Jakhar as Punjab unit president, the party’s prominent Hindu face in the state. However, there is no official statement from the party so far.
Jakhar has just returned from abroad after a month-long visit. Coming forward to deny media reports over the resignation of Jakhar, senior Punjab BJP leader Harjit Singh Grewal debunked “fake reports” of Jakhar’s resignation and unwillingness to work.
“Jakhar is the party’s senior-most leader and I met him two-three days ago and he has not expressed anything (over his decision to resign),” Grewal told a news channel, adding “owing to his preoccupations, he might not be able to attend the meeting (on Thursday)”.