Dhillon takes charge as BJP chief, 4 of 7 AAP MPs who joined party skip event

Four of the seven former AAP Rajya Sabha MPs who recently crossed over to the BJP were conspicuous by their absence when Kewal Singh Dhillon assumed charge as Punjab BJP president at the party's state headquarters in Sector 37 here on Wednesday.

Raghav Chadha, Harbhajan Singh, Rajinder Gupta and Sandeep Pathak were not present at the function. In contrast, Vikramjit Singh Sahney, Ashok Mittal and Satnam Sandhu were seated prominently in the front row on the stage.

Related news: Kewal Dhillon takes Punjab BJP reins, Ashwani reminds of old guard

Adding to the political optics, former Punjab Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Capt Amarinder Singh was also missing from the function even as his photograph alongside BJP national secretary Tarun Chugh and former MP Ravneet Singh Bittu featured prominently on a flex board on the stage. This signalled his importance in the party despite recent differences.

Capt Amarinder had earlier publicly expressed reservations about Dhillon's elevation, stating that while Dhillon was once close to him, he had not met him in years. He also denied media reports suggesting that he had recommended Dhillon's name for the post.

However, his wife and former Patiala MP Preneet Kaur was present and vowed full support to the new state president. "The high command has shown trust in you. We all have gathered here to welcome and support you," she said.

The front row of the stage told its own story of Congress migration to the BJP, with former Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, former minister Rana Gurmit Singh Sodhi, former MP Fateh Jung Bajwa and former state Congress chief Sunil Jakhar all seated prominently alongside the newly inducted AAP turncoats.

Dhillon began his tenure with an ardas followed by Vedic mantra recitation and installed a portrait of Maharaja Ranjit Singh at his new office, describing the Sikh emperor's reign as a model for a prosperous and harmonious Punjab. "In Maharaja Ranjit Singh's Punjab, every farmer was prosperous, every faith was respected and no Punjabi lived under fear," he said.

Chugh gave party workers a new slogan — "Na aapda, na kaapda, Punjab mangda Bhajpa" — and said the countdown for the AAP government had begun.

Jakhar said the party had always made sacrifices for Punjab, including playing junior partner to a regional party to preserve Hindu-Sikh unity. Describing the AAP government as the most corrupt in Punjab's history, he called for its removal in 2027. Jakhar also questioned the AAP government's appointment of the Punjab State Electricity Regulatory Commission chief, terming it another instance of the government's disregard for institutional propriety.

Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, BJP national vice-president Saudan Singh and former state presidents Ashwani Sharma and Vijay Sampla were among those present.