Parkash Singh Badal's Cousin Major Bhupinder Dhillon Joins BJP Ahead of 2027 Punjab Polls
· India · India Today
Major Bhupinder Singh Dhillon, cousin of former Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, joined the BJP in Chandigarh alongside his son Amarvir Singh Bawa. Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and Punjab BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon formally inducted the two into the party. The 78-year-old Bhupinder Dhillon previously served as Parkash Singh Badal's political secretary during the SAD-BJP government and held the rank of Minister of State. His entry into the BJP comes as the party and the Shiromani Akali Dal signal possible alliance talks ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. Bhupinder Dhillon stated he was impressed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's work and hinted at active electoral politics in the Badal family's traditional stronghold of Lambi, while noting he harboured no grievances against SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal.
Why it matters
The defection delivers a political blow to the Shiromani Akali Dal within its traditional family stronghold as the party evaluates a potential alliance reunion with the BJP ahead of the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
Read the original report — India Today
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