Former Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar has broken his silence amid growing speculation over his political future, declaring in a social media post: “I am with BJP and committed to its ideology.”
Jakhar’s statement comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi warmly greeted him at the Ganesh Chaturthi puja hosted by Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal at his residence in Lutyens’ Delhi. The public interaction had triggered political speculation, particularly at a time when a reshuffle of the Modi government’s Council of Ministers has been widely anticipated.
Jakhar’s assertion of loyalty to the BJP comes against the backdrop of renewed speculation about the Congress seeking to bring back some of its former leaders in Punjab as the Assembly elections draw closer.
Hovering over the Punjab Congress is also the continuing speculation surrounding former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh. There has been no confirmation that Amarinder is considering a return to the Congress, and he has himself rejected such speculation. However, the subject gained fresh political attention after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi made a recent friendly reference to the former chief minister.
Amarinder and Jakhar remain significant figures in Punjab politics, despite having left the Congress and joined the BJP.
Amarinder served as Punjab chief minister twice and led the Congress to a decisive victory in the 2017 Assembly elections. His second tenure ended in 2021 following a bitter confrontation with the Congress high command.
A possible return to the Congress would present the party with both opportunities and challenges. Amarinder’s long experience in Punjab politics and his understanding of the state’s social and political equations could potentially help the party reconnect with sections of its traditional support base. At the same time, his re-entry could add another centre of influence within a state unit already marked by competing leadership claims.
Congress looks towards former leaders
For now, both Amarinder and Jakhar remain outside the Congress fold. But with the Punjab Assembly elections approaching, the party appears to be looking towards leaders who once occupied prominent positions within its ranks.
According to political speculation, the Congress has sent feelers to Amarinder to leave the BJP and return to the party. Jakhar, another former Congress leader who went on to join the BJP, is now also being discussed in the context of a possible “homecoming”.
There has been no official confirmation that either leader is preparing to return.
The political buzz has intensified with Sachin Pilot taking charge as the new general secretary in-charge of the Punjab Congress. There is speculation within political circles that several leaders who had previously left the party could consider rejoining in an effort to strengthen the Congress ahead of the state polls.
For the moment, however, Jakhar’s message is unequivocal: he says he remains with the BJP and is committed to its ideology. Whether the Congress’s reported outreach to its former leaders yields any tangible results remains to be seen.
