Former Barnala MLA and Jat Sikh Kewal Singh Dhillon, a close confidante of former Punjab chief minister Capt Amarinder Singh, is set to be named the new president of the Punjab BJP, highly placed sources told The Tribune.His name has been finalised and the announcement is expected soon.The three-year tenure of incumbent president Jattvibeil Jakhar ends in July.Jakhar will continue to play a key role in leading the campaign for the 2027 election, sources added.BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh, who represents Punjab in the party’s national leadership, has been advocating for a Sikh leader to head the state unit, even as the BJP has traditionally been Hindu-based in its leadership and support structure in the state.Mantri Srinivaslu, Punjab in-charge of the RSS, was advocating Kewal Dhillon’s name, sources said.Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Saini, who has been visiting Punjab and participating in party functions and rallies, has also been pushing for a Sikh face.Capt Amarinder was recently in the news after the Dera Beas head Baba Gurinder Singh Dhillon called on him. Sources said other contenders were Jagmohan Raju and Manjit Singh Rai.Dhillon, 75, was born in Tallewal village in Barnala. He served as MLA from Barnala from 2007 to 2017, when he was defeated by AAP’s Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer. He joined the BJP in June 2022 along with several other Congress leaders who switched sides after the party’s rout in the state pollsHe was subsequently appointed vice-president of the Punjab BJP unit.Dhillon’s long association with Capt Amarinder — who himself crossed over to the BJP after floating the Punjab Lok Congress — gives him access to the former chief minister’s support base in Malwa.The party is also banking on his organisational experience from his Congress years to help rebuild cadre networks ahead of 2027.Among other prominent Sikh names that have done the rounds were Manjit Singh Rai, Jagmohan Raju and Ravneet Bittu, Union minister and grandson of former chief minister Beant Singh bedides Manpreet Badal, former finance minister.