Disgruntled Congress leader and former Punjab party chief Sunil Jakhar on Thursday joined the Bharatiya Janata Party in presence of the party national president J.P. Nadda in Delhi. Welcoming Jakhar into the party, Nadda said, “I welcome Sunil Jakhar to Bharatiya Janata Party. He is an experienced political leader who made a name for himself during his political career. I am confident he will play a big role in strengthening the party in Punjab.”
After joining BJP, Jakhar said: “Three generations of my family served the Congress party over the last 50 years. Today, I have broken the 50-year-old tie with Congress over issues of nationalism, unity and brotherhood in Punjab.” Jakhar said: “Congress is a party of sycophants now. It has got rid of all its core values. So, I though it is better to leave Congress. What Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP are doing are the tasks that I wanted to do for the country, but could not. Now I hope to do those jobs by following their footsteps.”
Jakhar, who was stripped of all posts previously, quit Congress last Saturday during a Facebook Live event. On 11 April, Congress leaders K.V. Thomas and Sunil Jakhar were issued show-cause notices for breaching party discipline. “I don’t hold any post (in the party); I have an ideology. I want to ask Sonia Gandhi that being Congress president, doesn’t she know that I hold no position in the party? Then why a show-cause notice is being given to me?” he asked. Jakhar had quit the Congress after lashing out at former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi on Twitter, saying that he was “not an asset” as portrayed by the party leadership. He also lashed out at veteran Congress leader Ambika Soni for her statement on the “repercussions of having a Hindu chief minister in Punjab”. Jakhar also held Soni’s statement as one of the reasons for the Congress’ drubbing in the Punjab Assembly polls earlier this year.
After quitting Congress, Jakhar has now again jumped into active politics. However, while in Congress, he had announced to leave active politics. His joining the BJP may increase the troubles of the Congress as the Congress is divided into two factions in Punjab. New Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring and Punjab Congress in-charge Harish Chaudhary have demanded disciplinary action from the high command against former Congress president Navjot Singh Sidhu.
The Daily Guardian spoke to sources close to Jakhar and according to them, BJP may nominate him as a Rajya Sabha member as well. In view of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, BJP is engaged in empowering itself in Punjab. Jakhar joining the BJP as the Hindu face could give him a big advantage. BJP can also entrust him with important responsibility in Punjab.
Jakhar can play an important role in bringing disgruntled Congressmen to the BJP. After joining the BJP, he can also create new political equations in Punjab by aligning with former CM Captain Amarinder as he had good relations with the Captain during the Congress. The Congress had last month removed him from all posts for alleged anti-party activities. Jakhar had expressed displeasure over the notice served by party leader Tariq Anwar, who said he was the person who once called Sonia Gandhi a foreigner. Jakhar was removed from the post of PPCC chief in July 2021 as he was considered close to ex CM of Punjab Captain Amarinder Singh.
Recently, in another development, Captain Amarinder Singh’s wife, Congress MP Preneet Kaur, was denied to be described as “a Congressian” by Raja Warring. Therefore, there is also a strong possibility that any decision of the Congress high command can bring Preneet Kaur to the BJP’s doorstep.
WITH BUREAU AND AGENCY INPUTS