Chandigarh, Jan 16: Four influential political figures from across Punjab officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday, dealing a strategic blow to the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and regional factions ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. The group includes Prof Onkar Singh, a former close aide and Officer on Special Duty to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, and veteran leader Jagmeet Singh Brar.
The induction ceremony, held at the BJP’s state headquarters in Sector 37, Chandigarh, featured a heavy-hitting lineup of leaders including Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar. Other new members included Charanjit Singh Brar, formerly of the Shiromani Akali Dal (Punar Surjiti), and other notable regional operatives.
“People in Punjab are looking towards the BJP as the only party that can protect them and restore confidence,” Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini said during the event. He noted that the state is currently gripped by an atmosphere of fear that has stifled both the industrial sector and the daily lives of citizens.
The arrival of Prof Onkar Singh is seen as a major tactical gain for the saffron party, given his deep grassroots connections in the Dhuri Assembly constituency. Political observers mentioned that his intimate knowledge of the AAP’s internal machinery could prove vital for the BJP’s expansion into traditional rural strongholds.
Sunil Jakhar asserted that the party’s growing “parivaar” is a clear indicator of the public’s desire for a change in governance. He directly said that the AAP-led administration has failed to maintain law and order, leading to a planned protest where BJP workers will gherao the Chief Minister’s residence.
“Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership, the party will work to strengthen governance in the state,” Saini added, reiterating that the model successful in other states is the roadmap for Punjab’s revival.
