Big boost for BJP: Jagmeet Brar, Ex-OSD to Punjab CM Mann join party ranks

Chandigarh (The Uttam Hindu): Targeting the 2027 assembly elections in Punjab, the Bharatiya Janata Party has intensified its expansion campaign. In this connection, the party got a big boost on Friday when several prominent leaders including former Congress MP Jagmeet Brar joined the BJP. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini formally gave these leaders party membership in Chandigarh. Those who joined the BJP include Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's former OSD Onkar Sidhu, senior Akali leader Charanjit Brar and former MLA from Kotkapura and Jagmeet's brother Ripjit Singh Brar.

BJP eyes Malwa belt

Political analysts believe that with the entry of these prominent figures, the BJP has directly attempted to woo the Malwa region of Punjab. Jagmeet Brar, his brother Ripjit Brar, and Charanjit Brar all hail from the Muktsar region of Malwa. The Malwa region holds the largest number of seats in the Punjab Assembly, which is why the BJP is working to strengthen its foothold there. It's worth noting that Jagmeet Brar previously contested the 2022 elections from the Maur Mandi assembly constituency on an Akali Dal ticket.

Will contest elections on all 117 seats: Ravneet Bittu

On this occasion, Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu made a major announcement, saying that the BJP will contest all 117 assembly seats in Punjab alone. He said that the people of Punjab are now convinced that only the BJP has the capability to eliminate "chitta" (drug) and gangsterism from the state. Bittu claimed that the day the BJP forms the government in the state, rivers of development will flow here and youth will get jobs.

Punjab politics is changing: Jakhar and Preneet Kaur

At the leaders' welcome ceremony, Punjab BJP President Sunil Jakhar said that the influx of prominent leaders into the party symbolizes the changing circumstances in Punjab. He added that the public is now looking to the BJP with hope. Meanwhile, former MP Maharani Preneet Kaur said that a major shift is underway in Punjab politics before 2027 and that she is confident that the BJP will be successful in forming a government in the upcoming elections.