Days after voicing reservations over the BJP high command's decision to appoint Kewar Singh Dhillon as Punjab BJP president without consulting him, former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Health Minister JP Nadda in New Delhi on Saturday. The meeting comes amid speculation that Singh might return to the Congress party, following hints from former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda.
Meeting Details
Speaking to The Tribune, Capt Amarinder dismissed the suggestion of a return to Congress. He stated that the meeting had been pending for some time. "I had requested a meeting with Amit Shah and he gave me time immediately. We discussed several issues concerning Punjab," he said.
When asked whether the discussion touched on poll strategy and possible alliances ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly election, the former CM said it was too early to speak about alliances. "We discussed poll strategy and what BJP can do in Punjab. We did not discuss any alliance as it is too early. I shared my experience of the state and we had a healthy exchange of ideas," he added.
He further noted that he had not visited Delhi for a while and had not met the central leadership during that period. "I had a good discussion with the party leadership, including Shah and Nadda. We talked about how BJP should expand its base in Punjab," he said.
Background
Capt Amarinder had earlier expressed dissatisfaction over not being consulted before the BJP high command named Dhillon as state unit president. This development had sparked discussions about his future within the party. However, his recent meeting with top BJP leaders appears to reaffirm his commitment to the party.
The meeting also comes in the context of broader political strategies in Punjab, where the BJP is looking to strengthen its presence ahead of the 2027 assembly elections. Capt Amarinder's experience and insights are considered valuable for the party's expansion plans in the state.
