Senior BJP leader and former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has openly criticised his own party’s working style, calling it rigid, while praising the Congress for its flexibility and consultative approach. Singh, who served twice as Chief Minister under the Congress and joined the BJP in 2022 after merging his Punjab Lok Congress with it, made the remarks while speaking to select media.
Highlighting BJP’s limited electoral success in Punjab, Singh said the party has failed to understand the state’s unique political nature. He pointed out that key decisions are taken at the top without consulting grassroots leaders who understand local sentiments. According to him, this lack of consultation has weakened BJP’s prospects in Punjab.
Singh contrasted this with his experience in the Congress, saying that although decisions were made at the top, party leadership regularly consulted MLAs and MPs. That process, he said, gave leaders a sense of involvement and ownership, which BJP currently lacks in the state.
His remarks come at a politically sensitive time as Punjab gears up for the 2027 Assembly elections and BJP looks to expand its footprint. Singh also ruled out any return to the Congress, stating that the manner in which he was removed as Chief Minister still deeply affects him, leaving no scope for reconciliation.
