Punjab BJP mobilises entire top brass for zila parishad, panchayat samiti poll

The Punjab BJP on Friday released a list of Assembly constituency incharges, including almost its entire top brass, signalling a major mobilisation for the zila parishad and panchayat samiti elections.

The party swung into action within hours of the announcement of the polls.

This comes as the BJP, which rules at the Centre, recently drew flak over the proposed changes in Panjab University and Chandigarh administrative structures.

Among the names that featured in the list were former Union Minister Vijay Sampla, former Punjab Finance Minister Manpreet Badal, former MP Shwait Malik, former MLAs Ashwini Sekhri, Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi and Kewal Singh Dhillon.

They have been asked to hit the ground and ]campaign aggressively for the elections, according to BJP sources. “Performance in these polls will naturally strengthen the claim of the leaders for the party ticket in the next Assemblyelections,” a senior leader said.

Punjab BJP media convener Vineet Joshi said, “The mood in the party is upbeat. All leaders and workers are charged up. The Punjab BJP is the only party that truly stands for the people of the state, and we are in full election gear.”

Political observers see the aggressive push as the saffron party’s attempt to gain traction in rural Punjab ahead of the 2027 polls, using the elections as a springboard to rebuild its organisational strength and cadre morale.

Simultaneously, the BJP intensified its attack on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government over flood relief compensation. Party leader Pritpal Singh Baliawal accused AAP leaders of misleading people over flood relief. “Government advertisements clearly mention that the relief amount is from central government grants. AAP is indulging in petty politics even on disaster relief,” he said.

Party’s working president Ashwani Sharma said the AAP government had “built a politics of lies, propaganda and showmanship in Punjab”.

“Under the MGNREGA, the BJP-led Centre had given Punjab more than ₹6,000 crore over the past years and released ₹842 crore in this financial year alone,” he said.

“Despite such massive assistance, labourers are not getting work. The clear question is where has this money actually gone,” he asked.