Ashwani Sharma appointment a balancing act by state BJP

With the appointment of Pathankot MLA Ashwani Sharma as the working president of the Punjab unit of the BJP, the party appears to be striking a careful balance between its core leadership and those who joined from other political backgrounds.

For some time now, internal fault lines have existed between traditional BJP loyalists and the newer entrants — leaders who previously belonged to the Congress or various Akali factions. These tensions have surfaced over key issues such as candidate selection, the party’s stance on high-profile matters like the drug case against Akali leader Bikram Singh Majithia and broader organisational decisions.

Ashwani Sharma’s elevation is being seen as a reaffirmation of the party’s commitment to its ideological roots. A seasoned BJP leader with deep ties to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Sharma represents the cadre that has spent its entire political life within the saffron fold. His appointment is widely interpreted as a nod to the traditionalists who have long felt sidelined.

Since the BJP’s break with the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), the party has opened its doors to leaders from rival camps, including the Congress and splinter Akali groups. Many of these new entrants were fielded in the 2022 Assembly elections, the 2024 Lok Sabha polls and various by-elections. While the BJP failed to secure significant victories, it did register a noticeable uptick in vote share.

In July 2023, the party placed its trust in former Congressman Sunil Jakhar by appointing him as the state president. However, Jakhar tendered his resignation in July 2024 — a move the party high command declined to accept. Though he technically remained in office, Jakhar’s limited participation in party affairs led to growing calls for a working president to manage day-to-day operations.

According to sources, this demand primarily came from the core BJP faction, which felt increasingly marginalised. The Punjab unit of the RSS is also believed to have backed this push, emphasising the need to recognise leaders who have dedicated their lives to the party’s ideology. This faction’s influence was evident in the selection of the RSS-backed Jiwan Gupta as the BJP candidate for the Ludhiana West bypoll.

Traditionalists within the party have consistently opposed any renewed alliance with the SAD or other regional players. In contrast, many of the newer leaders — particularly those from the Congress and Akali backgrounds — have argued that a re-alliance with the SAD was essential if the BJP hoped to form a government in Punjab.

Interestingly, Sharma’s appointment as working president came as a surprise to many within the party. Sources suggest that with BJP national president JP Nadda currently serving on an extension, a broader reshuffle — including the appointment of new state presidents — is expected soon. In that context, the urgency behind naming a working president for just a few weeks has left some party insiders puzzled. Sharma has remained the state president for three terms, which according to the sources, is the maximum one could have.

Punjab