PM Modi’s visit to Punjab can prove to be a major booster for the BJP cadre in the state

The Prime Minister’s visit to Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Punjab is being seen as a calculated political move ahead of the Punjab Assembly Elections in 2027. During the visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay obeisance at Dera Sachkhand Ballan and seek blessings of Padma Shri awardee Sant Niranjan Dass Ji.
This visit is expected to pave the way for bringing the Dalit community closer to the BJP, especially in the Doaba region. Recently, the Union Government conferred the Padma Shri on Sant Niranjan Dass Ji, which is considered a significant honour. The Prime Minister’s visit is likely to further strengthen the BJP cadre in Punjab, particularly in Doaba, and reinforce the party’s outreach among Dalit voters.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has had long-standing associations with Punjab. He was actively involved with then BJP National President L.K. Advani during the Rath Yatra in 1997 in Punjab and later served as in-charge of BJP Punjab political affairs from 1999 to 2001. During this tenure, he gained a deep understanding of Punjab’s demographic and political landscape. He was later appointed Chief Minister of Gujarat, where he served four consecutive terms, before becoming Prime Minister of India in 2014—a position he continues to hold for the third consecutive term.
The visit to Dera Sachkhand Ballan is widely viewed as part of BJP’s broader strategy to consolidate Dalit votes in Punjab, particularly in Doaba. However, it remains unclear whether the party will opt for a pre-poll alliance, post-poll alliance, or contest independently in the 2027 Assembly elections. In the past, former Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh and BJP State President Sunil Kumar Jakhar had advocated for an alliance, while Union Minister of State Ravneet Singh Bittu supported the idea of the BJP contesting all assembly seats in Punjab. The final decision now rests with the BJP high command.
In the Doaba region, senior BJP leaders including Vijay Sampla, Som Parkash, Sushil Kumar Rinku, and Avinash Chander have established strong connections with the Dalit electorate. Both Hoshiarpur and Jalandhar Lok Sabha constituencies are reserved seats, where the Dalit vote bank plays a decisive role. Currently, the Jalandhar seat is represented by Congress MP and former Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, while the Hoshiarpur seat is held by Aam Aadmi Party MP Raj Kumar Chabbewal. Previously, BJP leaders Vijay Sampla (2014) and Som Parkash (2019) had won from Hoshiarpur. In Jalandhar, Congress leader Santokh Singh Chaudhary won the seat in 2014 and 2019, but following his untimely demise, AAP candidate Sushil Kumar Rinku secured the seat in the 2023 by-election.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit may prove to be a significant breakthrough, potentially impacting the vote banks of other political parties. It is also expected that Union Home Minister Amit Shah, known for his strategic political acumen, may visit Punjab in the near future. Haryana Chief Minister Naib Singh Saini has already been making frequent visits to the state. Visits by Union Ministers and senior BJP leaders to Punjab are likely to intensify in the coming months.
It is evident that the BJP is preparing to play a decisive power game in Punjab with a well-calculated and transformative political strategy.
Authored by:
Rajat Kumar Mohindru
Jalandhar City