Chandigarh, May 28
In a significant political development, ahead of the crucial Punjab assembly elections slated for early next year, BJP has appointed former Barnala MLA and first ever Jat Sikh Kewal Singh Dhillon as the president of the party’s Punjab unit. Once a Congress strongman, Dhillon now faces the uphill task of making the BJP electorally relevant in Punjab.
Dhillon remains one of the most recognisable political faces of Punjab’s Malwa belt, particularly in Barnala district where his political influence has shaped local politics for nearly two decades. Known for his organisational strength, strong grassroots connect and businessman-politician image, Dhillon has travelled a long political journey from being a Congress strongman in Barnala to emerging as a prominent leader in the BJP in Punjab.
Born on May 16, 1950, in Barnala district, Dhillon received his early education in Barnala and gradually built his social and political base in the region. Over the years, he earned the reputation of being a politically influential leader with deep links among traders, industrial circles and rural voters alike.
Dhillon rose to prominence during his stint with the Congress, where he became one of the party’s key leaders in the Malwa region. He served as MLA from the Barnala Assembly constituency for two consecutive terms after winning the Punjab Assembly elections in 2007 and 2012. During his tenure, he projected himself as a development-oriented leader and maintained significant influence in Barnala politics.
Apart from his legislative role, Dhillon also held important organisational responsibilities in the Punjab Congress and served as senior vice-president of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee. His proximity to former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh further strengthened his standing within the party. In 2019, the Congress fielded him from the Sangrur Lok Sabha constituency, though he failed to secure victory.
However, political equations changed dramatically ahead of the 2022 Punjab Assembly elections. Differences within the Congress widened and Dhillon was eventually expelled from the party over alleged anti-party activities. The move marked the end of his long association with the Congress.
Soon after his expulsion, Dhillon joined the BJP in June 2022 along with several other senior Punjab leaders. The BJP quickly entrusted him with major responsibilities and fielded him as its candidate for the Sangrur Lok Sabha bypoll. Though he could not win the election, the party continued to project him as one of its important faces in Punjab’s Malwa region.
In recent years, Dhillon has remained politically active in Barnala and across Punjab. He has been involved in BJP organisational activities and has frequently targeted both the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party on governance and farmers’ issues. He was also inducted into the BJP Punjab core committee, reflecting his growing importance within the party structure.
Even after electoral setbacks, Dhillon continues to command visibility in Barnala politics owing to his long political experience, extensive network and active public presence. In 2024, he again contested from Barnala as the BJP candidate in the Assembly bypoll and remained actively engaged during civic and organisational campaigns in the district.
