In a significant development ahead of the Punjab assembly elections, over 50 senior members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) tendered their resignations from the party's primary membership in Gurdaspur, the home constituency of state BJP president Sunil Jakhar. The mass resignations were triggered by widespread dissatisfaction over the distribution of party tickets for the upcoming polls.
Mass Resignation in Gurdaspur
The resignations were submitted collectively by a group of veteran BJP workers who have been associated with the party for decades. They accused the party leadership of ignoring their contributions and fielding candidates who lack grassroots connect. The dissidents, led by former district president Rajesh Sharma, submitted their resignations to the party's state office, expressing deep anguish over the ticket allocation process.
Rajesh Sharma stated, "We have been loyal workers of the BJP for 30-40 years, but our services were overlooked. The party gave tickets to outsiders and those with no history of work in the constituency. This is an insult to the dedicated karyakartas."
Impact on Party's Prospects
Political analysts view this development as a major setback for the BJP in Punjab, especially in the Gurdaspur region. The party is already facing anti-incumbency and a tough contest from the ruling Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Internal dissent could further weaken the party's electoral prospects.
Sunil Jakhar, who himself is a prominent face from Gurdaspur, termed the resignions as unfortunate but expressed confidence that the party would resolve the grievances. He said, "The party respects all workers, and we will address their concerns. The doors are always open for dialogue."
Similar Protests in Other Districts
This is not an isolated incident. Earlier, similar protests were reported in Jalandhar and Ludhiana where disgruntled workers staged demonstrations against the ticket distribution. The BJP has fielded candidates in 65 out of 117 seats in Punjab, leaving many aspirants disappointed.
The dissidents have demanded a review of the ticket list and threatened to launch a campaign against the party candidates if their demands are not met. They also warned of joining other parties if the leadership fails to act.
As the election date approaches, the BJP faces the challenge of mending fences with its disgruntled workers to present a united front against the opposition.
