Chandigarh, Aug. 19 -- With a focus on the upcoming assembly elections, the BJP on Tuesday appointed Rajya Sabha member Satish Poonia as the Punjab affairs in-charge. A day before, the party named the 61-year-old leader among its eight national general secretaries.

A former Rajasthan BJP president and Rajya Sabha member, Poonia is credited with helping the party retain power in Haryana as the state in-charge in 2023, despite the odds. Senior leaders said Poonia is known for reading the riot act as well as giving a patient hearing to disgruntled leaders.

In Punjab as well, Poonia faces a huge challenge as the party is currently suffering from an unprecedented crisis, with its old senior leadership miffed over the functioning of the prese...