BREAKING | Sunil Jakhar Resigns As Punjab BJP Chief Ahead of Panchayat Elections: Sources

Chandigarh: In a big blow to the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ), unit President Sunil Jhakar resigned from his post on Friday (September 27) ahead of the Panchayat elections. 

This announcement comes as the BJP in the state has been rendered headless ahead of the Panchayat elections that are scheduled to be held on October 15.

Jhakar was named to lead the party unit in the state almost a year ago.  He also served as Punjab Congress chief and as the Leader of Opposition in the Punjab Assembly during 2012-2016.

'Totally Baseless, False': BJP on Jhakar's Exit

The Punjab BJP on Friday dismissed reports about President Sunil Jakhar from his post.

Though the 70-year-old Jakhar himself was not responding to calls, his close aide Sanjeev Trikha told PTI that there was nothing like this.

Meanwhile, Punjab BJP general secretary Anil Sarin dismissed it as "totally baseless and false".

He said Jakhar is leading the party's state unit.

However, on contrary, referring to reports of his resignation as the Punjab BJP chief, Punjab Congress chief and Ludhiana MP Amrinder Singh Raja Warring said on X, "Mr @sunilkjakhar, All the best, where next ?"

The Panchayat Elections in Punjab are scheduled to be held in October for over 13,000 gram Panchayats, the State Election Commission (SEC) said. The SEC said that with the election schedule announced, the model code of conduct for the gram panchayat elections has come into force with immediate effect.

As per the SEC election schedule, the filing of nominations will commence on September 27 and October 4 will be the last date. Furthermore, polling will be held from October 15 from 8 am to 4 pm. The votes will be counted on the same day.

The polling will be held for 13,237 posts of sarpanch and 83,437 of panch. There are a total of 1,33,97,922 registered voters -- 70,51,722 males and 63,46,008 females. There will be 19,110 polling booths.

(Inputs from PTI)