As Bihar gears up for its Assembly elections, the BJP is launching an ambitious campaign to woo 2.75 crore migrant voters. With 150 BJP leaders set out to engage Bihari migrants fanning out across 150 districts. The party is banking on rallies, door-to-door outreach, and cultural events timed around Chhath Puja to sway this crucial vote bank. Will this strategic push reshape Bihar’s electoral landscape, or will the opposition’s efforts counter the BJP’s efforts to mobilize migrant voters? The race to connect with non-resident Biharis is heating up, promising a fierce battle for votes.
Key Details: A Nationwide Push for Migrant Votes
- Approximately 150 Bihar BJP leaders, led by figures like state president Dilip Jaiswal and overseen by national general secretaries Tarun Chugh and Dushyant Kumar Gautam. The effort targets an estimated 2.75 crore non-resident Biharis living across India.
- The campaign involves a multi-pronged approach, including door-to-door visits, community “sneh miles” (get-togethers), and engagement with local Chhath Puja organizing committees. A detailed questionnaire titled “Aam Bihari provision ki jaankari” collects data on migrants’ names, addresses.
- The campaign intensified in May 2025, building on earlier efforts during Bihar Diwas in March, with a focus on the October 2025 polls, which coincided with Chhath Puja.
- The initiative spans 150 districts across India, targeting migrant-heavy regions, with events like “sneh milans” (get-togethers) and meetings with Chhath Puja committees.
- Migrant voters, estimated at 15,000-20,000 per Bihar Assembly constituency, are a pivotal demographic. The BJP believes that even mobilizing 5,000 voters per seat could significantly enhance turnout and tilt the scales in their favour.
- The party’s focus on migrants reflects its recognition of them as a swing vote bank, often influenced by economic and safety concerns tied to their home state.
In a bold move to bolster its electoral prospects, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a massive outreach campaign targeting approximately 2.75 crore Bihari migrants ahead of Bihar’s Assembly elections, expected in October 2025. Coinciding with Chhath Puja. With 150 party leaders fanning out across 150 districts nationwide, the BJP is pulling out all stops to persuade non-resident Biharis to return home and vote. Armed with a tailored questionnaire, the campaign combines door-to-door engagement, community meetups, and social media blitzes to connect with this pivotal voting bloc. The strategy hinges on the emotional resonance of Chhath Puja, a time when lakhs of migrants return to Bihar. As the NDA, led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, faces a resurgent opposition, this initiative could tilt the scales in a tightly contested electoral battleground.
Background: Why Migrants Matter in Bihar’s Electoral Math
Bihar, with its 243 Assembly seats, is a political battleground where every vote counts. The state’s large migrant population—estimated at 2.75 to 3 crore—has long been a significant but under-tapped electoral force. Many Biharis migrate to states like Delhi, Maharashtra, and Gujarat for work yet maintain strong ties to their home state, often returning for cultural events like Chhath Puja. BJP leaders set out to engage Bihari Migrants, as historically, migrant voter turnout has varied, but their potential to influence close races is undeniable.
The BJP leaders set out to engage Bihari Migrants. The focus on this group stems from its recent successes in states like Haryana and Delhi, which have boosted NDA morale as it seeks to retain power in Bihar under Nitish Kumar’s leadership. The party’s earlier Bihar Diwas celebrations in March 2025 laid the groundwork. With get-togethers and press conferences aimed at highlighting the NDA’s governance record while warning against the opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal’s (RJD) alleged “jungle raj.”
Key Events: A Strategic and Emotional Campaign
The BJP’s campaign is a blend of data-driven strategy and cultural appeal. Since May 2025, 150 leaders have been crisscrossing India, armed with a questionnaire to profile migrant voters. Questions cover personal details, Assembly constituencies, and political leanings, aiming to build a robust voter database. The timing is strategic: Chhath Puja, a major festival, sees lakhs of migrants return, creating a window of opportunity to mobilize and mobilize votes. As Bihar BJP spokesperson Manoj Sharma noted, “The possibility of migrant Biharis returning to vote is high during Chhath Puja, making this a golden opportunity.”
Engagement tactics include door-to-door visits, community gatherings, and social media campaigns, all under the slogan “Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat.” The party has also enlisted the help of influencers and local Chhath Puja organizers to amplify its message. During Bihar Diwas, BJP ministers and MPs joined migrants at events, assuring them of safety under the NDA rule while contrasting it with the RJD’s past governance.
Stakeholder Perspectives: Voices from the Campaign Trail
Bihar BJP president Dilip Jaiswal emphasized the campaign’s scale: “We are reaching out to every Bihari migrant, from Delhi’s rickshaw pullers to Mumbai’s factory workers, to ensure their voices shape Bihar’s future.” Sharma added, “Even if we convince 5,000 migrants per constituency, it will transform voter turnout.”
Opposition voices, however, are sceptical. RJD spokesperson Mritunjay Tiwary challenged the BJP’s narrative, saying, “The NDA must explain what it has done for Bihar’s migrants in 11 years of central rule. Our padayatra is addressing real issues like jobs and migration.” The Congress, through its “Malayan roko Naukri do” (stop migration, give jobs) yatra led by Kanhaiya Kumar, is also targeting youth and migrants, signalling a counter-strategy to blunt the BJP’s efforts.
Broader Implications: Reshaping Bihar’s Electoral Narrative
The BJP’s leaders set out to engage Bihari Migrants, which could redefine Bihar’s electoral dynamics. With the NDA banking on Nitish Kumar’s leadership and recent wins in other states. This campaign aims to consolidate its base while countering the RJD-Congress alliance’s focus on unemployment and migration. Political analyst Gyanendra Yadav cautioned, “While the BJP’s strategy is innovative, its success depends on whether migrants see tangible benefits from NDA governance.”
The campaign also highlights a broader trend of targeting diaspora voters, a tactic seen in other states but executed here with unprecedented scale. If successful, it could set a template for future elections, emphasizing data-driven voter profiling and cultural connections. However, the opposition’s aggressive counter-campaigns, like Congress’s padayatra, suggest a fierce battle for migrant loyalty, with unemployment and governance as key issues.
Conclusion: A High-Stakes Gamble
As Bihar’s Assembly polls loom, the BJP’s outreach to 2.75 crore migrant voters is a high-stakes gamble to secure a critical edge. By blending cultural resonance with strategic voter profiling, the party aims to increase turnout and influence the outcome in a state where margins are crucial. Yet, opposition efforts and public scepticism about governance delivery pose challenges. Whether this campaign will tip the scales or fizzle out depends on the BJP’s ability to translate promises into votes. As Chhath Puja nears, all eyes are on Bihar’s migrants and their electoral impact.
