How Ex-Congress Leader Kewal Singh Dhillon Emerged As BJP's Top Choice For Its Punjab Unit

For the first time, the Punjab BJP has appointed a Jat Sikh as its president. Although Daya Singh Sodhi had previously served as the party president in 1997 - representing a Sikh face - this marks the first instance where the party has entrusted the leadership of Punjab to a Jat Sikh. Notably, several other prominent figures - individuals who hold considerable stature in Punjab's political landscape - were also in the running for the post. However, the BJP High Command ultimately finalised the name of Sardar Kewal Singh Dhillon for the position of Punjab BJP president.

Caste, Region, Strategy: The Logic Behind Dhillon's Selection

After a year of speculation, Kewal Singh Dhillon has been appointed as the new Punjab BJP president. Three names stood out as the leading contenders in this race. Among them was former president and MLA Ashwani Sharma, who is recognised as the party's prominent Hindu face in Punjab. This was significant because, for a considerable period, the party had been led by a Hindu figure; however, ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, they were actively seeking a Jat Sikh face to lead the party.

Alongside him, Ravneet Bittu - a Jat Sikh and a youthful Sikh face - was also a contender in this race. In addition to being a Jat Sikh, he hails from the Malwa region of Punjab. According to sources, the party currently intends to retain him at the Centre. The party aims to project him as a major Sikh face on the national stage, ensuring that he continues to effectively discharge his duties as a Union minister alongside his other national-level responsibilities.  

Although former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh is also a Jat Sikh, his advanced age makes him appear - to some extent - less capable of playing a major, active leadership role for the BJP at this juncture. According to sources, due to this factor, the party can no longer place a major political bet on him.

Furthermore - if sources are to be believed - these were not the only names in contention, several prominent figures who had defected from the Congress to the BJP were also included in this list. Among them was the Jat Sikh leader Fatehjang Bajwa. While he hails from the Majha region of Punjab, the party was specifically seeking a face associated with the Malwa region - an area comprising 69 Assembly constituencies. Consequently, he fell behind in this race.

Meanwhile, Manpreet Singh Badal - a leader also hailing from Malwa - was another contender in the race. According to sources, the party intends to entrust him with a different responsibility in the future. Rana Gurmeet Singh Sodhi, another leader from Malwa, was also in the running. However, the party was keen on projecting a Sikh face associated with the stronghold of Chief Minister Mann.

The BJP's decision to pick Dhillon is based on several key factors. The BJP wants to expand its acceptability in rural areas, where the Akali Dal remains strong. Historically, the BJP's support base has largely been limited to urban Hindu voters. By promoting Dhillon, a prominent Jat Sikh, the party aims to dispel the perception that it alienates the state's dominant agrarian and political community.
The BJP is also looking to strengthen its hold in the Malwa region. Dhillon hails from Malwa, which is Punjab's political heartland. The party plans to leverage Dhillon's influence there to mount a strong challenge against the Aam Aadmi Party.

Kewal Singh Dhillon has worked closely with former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. The BJP has chosen him to bring together Congress leaders who have joined the party. Through this, the party hopes to bridge the gap that has emerged in its relationship with rural voters.

By choosing Kewal Singh Dhillon, the BJP has also managed to balance various internal factions. His name did not face opposition from any group. Known for his commitment to grassroots political battles, this quality appealed strongly to the high command.

BJP's Social Engineering

The BJP is determined to win Punjab this time. To achieve this, the party is meticulously factoring in every possible political equation. A prime example of this strategy is Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini. Since assuming the office of Chief Minister of Haryana, the party has assigned him the specific responsibility of maintaining a constant focus on Punjab. In other words, the incumbent Chief Minister of Haryana is currently playing a pivotal role in Punjab's affairs - a commitment underscored by the fact that he invariably wears a turban during his visits to the state. According to sources, the party sought his feedback regarding the ground-level impact of its various programmes; specifically, the positive resonance of his gesture - wearing a turban while attending events in Punjab - was clearly observed at the grassroots level.

Following this assessment, the party decided to project Kewal Dhillon - a Jat Sikh face - as its key figure. He hails from the village of Tallewal, Barnala, in the Malwa region. Kewal Singh Dhillon represents a "combo package" for the BJP: he is a prominent businessman and a farmer. A significant factor is that he belongs to the political bastion of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann; furthermore, acting on the party's directive, he had contested the Lok Sabha by-election from Sangrur. Although, he was ultimately defeated in that election.

Meanwhile, Kewal Singh Dhillon won the Assembly elections in 2007 and 2012 from Barnala in the Malwa region while still a member of the Congress party. Additionally, while with the Congress, he contested the 2019 Lok Sabha election against CM Mann but was defeated. He joined the BJP in 2022 - a move he made under challenging circumstances during the agitation against the farm laws. Subsequently, after CM Mann assumed office as the Chief Minister of Punjab, Dhillon entered the fray as the BJP candidate in the Sangrur Lok Sabha by-election.

Within the BJP, there had been growing support for appointing a Sikh face to lead the Punjab unit. Insiders said BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh strongly backed Dhillon's candidature. RSS Punjab in-charge Mantri Srinivaslu and Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini were also reportedly supportive of the move.

Kewal Singh Dhillon Background

Kewal Singh Dhillon is widely regarded as one of Punjab's most influential contemporary political figures - a leader whose journey spans rural Punjab, international enterprise, and public service at the highest levels.

Rooted in the soil of Malwa and shaped by early experiences in the United States, Dhillon returned to India in 1979 with a global outlook and a singular conviction: Barnala deserved far better than it had received. What followed was decades of transformative work in education, industry, infrastructure, and politics.

The people of Barnala gave him a title few leaders truly earn - Vikas Purush, the Man of Development.

After completing his B.A. from S.D. College, Barnala, Dhillon moved abroad at the age of 19 and later settled in the United States. Exposure to global business and enterprise shaped his entrepreneurial vision, but his commitment to Punjab remained unwavering.

Upon returning to India in 1979, he began contributing to public welfare long before entering politics. He financially supported S.D. College, Barnala during a period of crisis and helped launch its D. Pharmacy programme. He also played a key role in establishing a B.Ed. college in Tallewal, expanding educational opportunities for rural girls across the region.

His most significant corporate achievement came when he helped bring PepsiCo to India during Punjab's most turbulent years. At a time when terrorism had driven away investment, Dhillon took personal risks to facilitate PepsiCo's entry and establish its only concentrate plant in India at Sangrur, Punjab - creating employment for thousands of youth.

For this achievement, he received the PepsiCo Worldwide Bottler of the Year Award, presented by former U.S. President George Bush.

Political Career

Dhillon's political journey began in 1989 when he was offered the Congress ticket for the Sangrur Lok Sabha constituency. In 2001, he was appointed Vice-President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC).

He formally entered electoral politics in 2007, winning the Barnala Assembly seat by defeating the incumbent SAD-BJP candidate Malkit Singh Keetu and dramatically increasing the Congress vote share. He was re-elected in 2012 with an even larger margin, cementing his standing as one of Malwa's strongest grassroots leaders.

As Senior Vice-President of the PPCC, he was entrusted by the Congress leadership with responsibilities as Election Observer for major states including Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra during the 2014 General Elections.

In June 2022, Dhillon joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), bringing with him decades of administrative experience, grassroots credibility, and organisational leadership. He contested both the Sangrur Lok Sabha by-election and the Barnala Assembly by-election under the BJP banner, helping the party strengthen its presence in Punjab's rural Malwa region.