In a development that signals continuing undercurrents within the Punjab BJP following the appointment of Kewal Singh Dhillon as state president, Dr Jagmohan Singh Raju, a retired IAS officer who had been among the contenders for the top post, has resigned as general secretary of the state unit.
In a letter dated June 5, which was shared on his social media account on Sunday morning and addressed to Sangathan Mantri Manthri Srinivasulu, Raju noted that he had served the party as vice president and general secretary over the past four years. He described this period as one of the most enriching chapters of his political journey.
However, he cited his commitment to several public causes as the reason for stepping back from his organisational responsibilities. Through the letter, he informed about his active involvement in handling various important matters like ensuring the Holy city status to Amritsar, providing educational aid to youth of Punjab, and advocating for the welfare of poor kids through Right to Education Act. Other important issues that were part of his concern included safeguarding the constitutional rights of SCs and Sikhs, converting religious minorities, dealing with the drug menace, making Punjabi language paramount, and legacy issues of Punjab, like water and Chandigarh issue.
Raju wrote that these matters are of immense long-term importance to both Punjab and the wider nation, which is why he intends to devote himself more extensively to them. He added that he plans to undertake public outreach, research, writing, legal interventions, and mass contact programmes.
Given that this will take time and effort on their part, it was felt by Raju that it will not be right for him to have an important organisational position and be engaged in these activities. He requested that they should not assign him any important organisational responsibilities at the moment because of this reason.
Raju, who is a Visiting Fellow at Cambridge University's Judge Business School and a Visiting Professor in the Department of Public Administration at Panjab University, had been viewed as a strong candidate for the state BJP presidency before the party high command ultimately chose Dhillon.
His resignation follows closely on the heels of former Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh publicly questioning the appointment, further compounding the impression of visible restlessness within the senior ranks of the Punjab BJP ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections.
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