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NEW DELHI: Former Punjab chief minister and senior BJP leader Capt Amarinder Singh on Saturday met Union home minister Amit Shah and BJP national president and Union health minister JP Nadda in New Delhi, days after his public criticism of the party’s decision to appoint Kewal Singh Dhillon as Punjab BJP chief.The meetings come amid growing political speculation over Amarinder Singh’s future in the BJP, following reports of his dissatisfaction with the party leadership and rumours of a possible return to the Congress ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.After meeting Shah, Amarinder Singh said on X, “Had a meeting with Union home minister Shri Amit Shah Ji today in New Delhi and discussed various issues concerning Punjab.”In a separate post, he said he also met Nadda and discussed matters related to Punjab.Nadda later confirmed the meeting, writing on X, “Met senior BJP leader and former Punjab chief minister @capt_amarinder Ji in New Delhi today. We discussed many Political issues, including Punjab.”
Questions over Punjab BJP leadership
The meetings assume significance as Amarinder Singh has recently expressed strong reservations over the appointment of Kewal Singh Dhillon as Punjab BJP president. The 84-year-old leader had said he was not consulted before the appointment and questioned whether Dhillon was capable of delivering what the BJP expected ahead of the 2027 state polls.”I don’t think Kewal is in a position what BJP wishes him to deliver,” Amarinder Singh had said earlier, according to news agency PTI.Amarinder also said he felt ignored despite spending six decades in Punjab politics and criticised the party for not seeking his views on a key organisational decision.He argued that leadership positions should be based on ability rather than caste considerations and questioned the rationale behind projecting Dhillon as a Jat Sikh face.
Buzz over possible exit from BJP
Speculation about Amarinder Singh’s future intensified after he skipped the recent event where Dhillon formally took charge as Punjab BJP chief.A section of BJP leaders and Rajya Sabha members from Punjab were also absent from the function.Adding to the chatter, former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda recently remarked that Amarinder Singh remained in touch with Congress leaders.However, Punjab BJP leaders have dismissed suggestions that the veteran politician could leave the party. BJP spokesperson Pritpal Singh Baliawal recently said, “These are just rumours. He is not going anywhere, he is with BJP.”Amarinder Singh, who quit the Congress in 2021 and later merged his Punjab Lok Congress with the BJP in 2022, has continued to publicly voice concerns over the party’s functioning in Punjab.Despite his criticism, there has been no indication from either side that he plans an immediate exit from the BJP.Punjab is scheduled to go to Assembly polls in 2027, with the BJP maintaining that it will contest the election on its own.
