BJP rebuts reports of Sunil Jakhar’s resignation as Punjab president

PTC News Desk: On Friday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) officially refuted the rumors regarding Sunil Jakhar’s resignation as the president of its Punjab unit, a prominent Hindu figure in the state. Despite the denials, the party has not yet issued an official statement addressing the situation.

According to party sources, Jakhar has been feeling discontent regarding the current state of affairs within the party and has communicated his reluctance to continue in his role as state party president to the top leadership. He reportedly expressed that he feels constrained in his ability to perform his duties freely.

A senior party leader, speaking to IANS, revealed, “He has offered to step down, but the party advised him to remain in the position until the next election for the post, which is expected in December, and he agreed to this advice.”

The speculation regarding Jakhar’s alleged “differences” with the party intensified after he was notably absent from a meeting called to finalize the BJP’s strategy for its ongoing membership drive. A source mentioned, “After missing the meeting, rumors circulated that he was boycotting in protest.”

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Jakhar recently returned from a month-long trip abroad. In response to media reports concerning his resignation, senior Punjab BJP leader Harjit Singh Grewal dismissed these claims as “fake news.” He stated, “Jakhar is the party’s senior-most leader, and I met him two to three days ago. He did not express any intention to resign.” Grewal explained that Jakhar’s absence from the meeting was likely due to his preoccupations and should not be construed as dissatisfaction with the party’s central leadership.

The BJP appointed Sunil Jakhar as its state unit president in July 2023, following his departure from the Congress party, where he had been a significant figure. Jakhar joined the BJP in May 2022, just three months after the Congress suffered a defeat in the Assembly elections.

A former Lok Sabha MP from Gurdaspur, Jakhar has served as a three-time Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) for the Abohar constituency. He is recognized for his forthright communication style and straightforward approach to politics.

Before joining the BJP, Jakhar was the president of the Congress party in Punjab for four years until he was succeeded by Navjot Singh Sidhu in 2021. As the BJP navigates this leadership issue, Jakhar’s future role within the party remains a topic of interest.

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