Vijay Sampla appointed Punjab BJP chief

NEW DELHI: Union Minister Vijay Sampla, BJP's Dalit face from Punjab, was today appointed as party's state unit chief.

BJP has banked on 55-year-old Sampla, who comes from a humble background and risen in the party over the years, to consolidate Dalit voters in the state which goes to the polls early next year and where the community constitute over 32 per cent of voters.

With AAP emerging as a strong force in the state and the SAD-BJP government facing an anti-incumbency wave, the party leadership believes that his appointment would help them in the elections.

He will take over from Kamal Sharma.