Amid reports of his displeasure with the appointment of the Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Kewal Singh Dhillon and his alleged exit from the party, former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Saturday met the Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi.
Later, Singh met Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, the former BJP President. In a post on social media platform X, Amarinder Singh said: "Had a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah Ji today in New Delhi and discussed various issues concerning Punjab."
Ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections in Punjab, the BJP on May 28 appointed a Jat Sikh face and former legislator Kewal Singh Dhillon, 75, as the party's new state President, replacing Sunil Jakhar, the party's prominent Hindu face in the state. On the day of the appointment of the Punjab BJP Chief, Amarinder Singh said that he was not consulted by the party high command before appointing Dhillon.
Responding to a media query over the assertion of Amarinder Singh that he distanced himself from the appointment of Dhillon as the state party President, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said State BJP President Dhillon was always considered close to Amarinder Singh and "now both leaders appear to have parted ways".
"Kewal Singh Dhillon was always considered close to Captain Amarinder Singh. Now, both leaders appear to have parted ways, and the reasons for this change are known only to them. It remains a mystery why there is a loss of warmth between the two," Chief Minister Mann was quoted as saying on May 30.
Without mincing words, the Chief Minister said Captain Amarinder Singh had no role in the decision taken by the BJP leadership. Chief Minister Mann said Captain Amarinder Singh had supported Dhillon when he contested the 2019 Lok Sabha election from Sangrur.
State BJP President Dhillon on Friday called on party President Nitin Nabin in New Delhi and expressed gratitude for entrusting him the leadership role in Punjab and assured him that he would take along every section of the party and work in close coordination with state leaders, BJP office-bearers and workers.