Former UT Advisor to Governor Punjab & Chandigarh, Senior IAS (Retd) Dharam Pal, Join BJP in Chandigarh

April 30, 2026

Chandigarh: In a significant political development, several prominent figures from administrative and political backgrounds joined the Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday in Chandigarh, in the presence of Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini.

Among those who switched sides were Dharmpal (Retd IAS), former UT Adviser to the Governor, former Chief Engineer of Irrigation Punjab Sohan Lal Sidhu (Retd), Rajvinder Kaur, AAP Block President Jasbir Singh, and Sukhjeet Singh.

The induction ceremony, held in Chandigarh, is being seen as a strategic move by the BJP to strengthen its organisational base in Punjab and the Union Territory ahead of upcoming political contests.

Welcoming the new entrants, Saini said their experience in administration and grassroots politics would add strength to the party’s outreach and governance vision. He emphasised the BJP’s commitment to development-driven politics and expressed confidence that the leaders would play an active role in expanding the party’s presence in the region.

The move is likely to intensify political competition in Punjab, particularly impacting the Aam Aadmi Party, which currently holds power in the state.