In a significant move aimed at calming internal unrest, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has appointed Pathankot MLA Ashwani Sharma as the working president of its Punjab unit. This decision appears to be a balancing act — one that tries to bridge the growing gap between the party’s old guard and its newer members who have joined from other political backgrounds like the Congress and Akali factions.
Over the past few years, the Punjab BJP has faced internal disagreements. Long-time party members have felt sidelined, especially as more former Congress and Akali leaders were given key roles. Tensions have come to the surface on sensitive matters such as candidate selection and the party’s position on the drug case involving Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia.
Sharma’s appointment is being seen as a clear message that the BJP wants to reaffirm its connection to its core ideology. A senior leader with strong ties to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Sharma has been with the BJP throughout his political career. His rise to working president is being viewed as a victory for traditional party loyalists who have been feeling increasingly marginalised.
Since parting ways with its long-time ally, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the BJP has welcomed several leaders from other parties. These new faces were given tickets in the 2022 Assembly polls, the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, and various bypolls. While the party didn’t win many seats, it did see a slight increase in vote share.
In July 2023, BJP leadership made a bold move by appointing former Congressman Sunil Jakhar as Punjab BJP president. But a year later, Jakhar offered his resignation. Although the party didn’t accept it, his lack of involvement in daily party work led to increasing demands for someone else to handle the organisation’s affairs. These demands mainly came from the traditional BJP faction, with support from the RSS’s Punjab unit.
Their influence was recently seen in the choice of Jiwan Gupta — a leader backed by the RSS — as the BJP’s candidate in the Ludhiana West bypoll.
Many party traditionalists remain firmly against rekindling ties with the SAD, while newer leaders argue that a renewed alliance is essential if the BJP wants to gain power in the state.
What surprised many, however, was the timing of Sharma’s appointment. BJP national president JP Nadda is currently serving an extended term, and a wider reshuffle — including new state presidents — is expected soon. This has led to questions within the party about why a working president was urgently needed now, especially for such a short window.
Sharma has already served as Punjab BJP chief three times — reportedly the maximum allowed — making this latest appointment all the more unusual.
Still, for now, Ashwani Sharma’s return to a key role seems to offer comfort to party loyalists who have been waiting for recognition of their long-standing commitment.
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