Chandigarh: Former Punjab BJP president Sunil Jakhar has ruled out any possibility of returning to the Congress, firmly rejecting recent speculation about a possible comeback and saying that the doors of the party are now closed for him.
Jakhar’s remarks came amid a renewed debate over the leadership and direction of the Punjab Congress ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. Rather than focusing on speculation about his own political future, Jakhar turned his attention towards Congress leaders Partap Singh Bajwa and Pargat Singh and questioned their earlier statements regarding the appointment of the Punjab Congress president.
The former Punjab BJP chief questioned the two leaders over their reported claim that they had approached Congress leader Rahul Gandhi with a request for a state party president who would not be afraid of agencies such as the Enforcement Directorate (ED) or the Punjab Vigilance Bureau.
Jakhar sought to know what happened to the demand after it was reportedly placed before the Congress leadership. He questioned whether the party had accepted their request and whether the eventual leadership arrangement in Punjab reflected the concerns raised by Bajwa and Pargat Singh.
Jakhar Rules Out Congress Comeback
The central message from Jakhar was his rejection of any possibility of returning to the Congress.
He questioned why he would return to a political organisation where, according to his remarks, individuals he considers to be deeply involved in corruption continue to hold influence.
His comments were also directed at the broader political equation within the Punjab Congress. Jakhar questioned what would happen to those currently occupying important positions in the party if he were to make a return.
The remarks indicate that Jakhar’s response was not merely a denial of rumours but also an attempt to question the political circumstances that had given rise to speculation about his return.
Questions Over Punjab Congress Leadership
Jakhar’s criticism comes at a time when leadership remains an important issue for political parties preparing for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections.
His questions directed at Bajwa and Pargat Singh bring the focus back to the internal functioning of the Congress in Punjab. By asking whether their reported demand before Rahul Gandhi had been acted upon, Jakhar has sought to highlight what he sees as an unresolved question concerning the party’s leadership choices.
The remarks also place Congress’s internal political discussions in the wider context of the electoral contest expected in Punjab.
Reference To Captain Amarinder Singh
Jakhar also brought former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh into the discussion while referring to the political equation that would emerge if he were ever to consider returning to Congress.
According to Jakhar, the answer to that political equation could only come from Captain Amarinder Singh himself.
The reference is significant because Jakhar’s political journey has been closely associated with Punjab’s changing political alignments. He served as Punjab Congress president before joining the BJP, making his comments on the Congress particularly relevant to discussions about the state’s political landscape.
BJP-Congress Contest In Focus
Jakhar’s latest remarks are likely to keep attention on the political contest between the BJP and Congress in Punjab as both parties prepare for the 2027 Assembly elections.
For Jakhar, however, the immediate issue is not a return to his former party but the political questions surrounding Congress’s leadership. His categorical dismissal of the comeback speculation removes ambiguity over his stated position while shifting the political conversation towards the Congress’s internal affairs.
With the next Assembly election still ahead, leadership, organisational strength and the ability of political parties to present a coherent campaign are expected to remain central themes in Punjab politics.
Jakhar’s comments add another layer to that debate, with his questions directed specifically at Bajwa and Pargat Singh and at the leadership decisions taken by the Congress in Punjab.
