Jit Lal Bhatti, a prominent Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader who contested the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections from the Adampur constituency, officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on June 27, 2026. The induction ceremony took place at the BJP's state headquarters in Chandigarh, where Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon formally welcomed Bhatti into the party fold.
BJP Strengthens Rural Footprint in Doaba
State BJP chief Kewal Singh Dhillon expressed confidence that Bhatti's extensive grassroots network and public support would significantly bolster the party's presence in the Doaba region, particularly in the Adampur Assembly segment. Dhillon stated, "Jit Lal Bhatti's experience and connect with the people will help the BJP expand its base in rural Punjab." The move is widely seen as a strategic effort by the BJP to attract influential local leaders and increase its influence in villages, where the party has traditionally faced stiff competition from AAP and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
Bhatti's Political Journey and Electoral Performance
In the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections, Bhatti secured nearly 29,000 votes, accounting for approximately 25% of the vote share in Adampur. He finished third, trailing behind Congress candidate Sukhwinder Kotli and SAD's Pawan Tinu. Tinu later left SAD in 2024 and joined AAP. In June 2025, AAP removed Bhatti as its halqa in-charge in Adampur, replacing him with Tinu. Before entering politics, Bhatti served as a supervisor at Punjab National Bank for 36 years, retiring in 2015.
Multiple Leaders Join BJP Alongside Bhatti
Accompanying Bhatti, several other political and social leaders also switched allegiance to the BJP. These include Urmila Devi, former vice-president of the Nagar Council in Bhogpur; Vidwant Kaur, former senior vice-president of the Nagar Council, Bhogpur; Usha Rani, a sarpanch; and Raj Rani, a senior AAP worker. Their induction is expected to strengthen the BJP's organizational structure at the local level.
Commitment to Good Governance and Nationalism
Welcoming the new members, Dhillon remarked that the BJP continues to gain momentum across Punjab. Bhatti stated that he was inspired by the BJP's commitment to good governance, nationalism, and public welfare. He pledged to work tirelessly to strengthen the party at the grassroots level throughout the state.
