Why BJP has appointed its Haryana ‘success man’ as Punjab in-charge

The BJP has appointed Satish Poonia, known as the “brainchild” of Haryana’s success, as the Punjab in-charge ahead of the upcoming Assembly polls. Poonia, who is a Rajya Sabha member from Rajasthan, was made Haryana’s in-charge in July 2023. He played a crucial role in Haryana’s electoral victory in 2024, securing a majority of the 90 Assembly seats.

However, the BJP suffered a setback in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, winning only five out of Haryana’s 10 seats. Poonia’s appointment is seen as a political homecoming, as he previously held the same role from 2004 to 2014. Punjab presents a challenging political landscape for the BJP, with only two MLAs in the 117-member Assembly and no Lok Sabha MP.

The party faces the task of expanding its organisational base beyond its traditional urban strongholds. Poonia will also need to manage the BJP's relationship with the farmers' movement, which remains strong in Punjab, with several organisations active under different banners. Poonia's appointment comes as the post was previously vacant, following the death of former Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani in June 2025.