Ahead of the consecration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya on January 22, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to kick off the BJP’s Lok Sabha election campaign from Champaran in Bihar where he is scheduled to address a massive rally at Bada Raman Maidan, Bettiah on January 13.
Sources in the BJP said Bihar emerges as a crucial political battleground for the BJP, with plans for multiple visits by Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and party’s national president JP Nadda.
The party aims at victory in all 40 Lok Sabha seats in the State. It has outlined a campaign strategy involving rallies and public engagements. During his visit, Modi would lay the foundation stones for various Government programmes and address the public.
Preparations are in full swing for the proposed rally of Modi at Bada Ramna Maidan, Bettiah.
Prior to his Bihar visit, Modi will visit Gujarat from January 8-10 during which he will hold bilateral meetings with world leaders, CEOs of top global corporations, and inaugurate the Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit.
Following the Gujarat visit, Modi would head to Maharashtra on January 12, where he is scheduled to inaugurate the 27th National Youth Festival, the Mumbai Trans Harbor Link and lay the foundation stone for various development projects in Navi Mumbai, demonstrating the BJP’s commitment to infrastructure and youth engagement.
While the dates for the 2024 Lok Sabha polls haven’t been announced yet, the ruling BJP has already begun preparations and made some key decisions.
The recent Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Telangana, and Mizoram have set the precedent for the Lok Sabha elections.
According to Bihar BJP sources, the main projects to be inaugurated by the PM include NH-131A four lane Narenpur-Purnia, NH 327E four lane Araria-Galgaliya, NH-30 four lane Pararia-Mohaniya etc. Apart from this, the foundation stone laying ceremony of the six-lane bridge on river Ganga parallel to JP Setu, Parasarma-Saharsa-Mahishi, Chakia-Bairginia, Darbhanga-Jayanagar, Jamui, Shekhpura and Banka bypass is included in the projects to be laid.
The PM is scheduled to launch various projects worth `5,600 crore during his visit.
Additionally, the deadline for completing 10 projects currently under construction in the State is set for this year. These projects consist of nine roads and one bridge, covering a total length of 585.75 km and incurring a cost of about `19,756 crore.
Bihar’s political scenario has witnessed a shift, with the BJP in the Opposition and the JD(U) forming part of the ‘Mahagathbandhan’ Government. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has united Opposition leaders with the goal of defeating the BJP in the upcoming elections. The BJP aims to counter the transformed political landscape in Bihar, where the BJP is now in the Opposition.
Setting a high target of more than 400 seats in the upcoming 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP has decided new slogan, ‘Teesri baar Modi Sarkar, ab ki baar 400 paar’.
Claiming that the aim to win over 400 Lok Sabha seats is not unrealistic but rather achievable, a BJP leader said in 2014, the BJP worked on “Mission 273+” and achieved it. Similarly, this time it will also achieve the target of 400 seats.
Among the initiatives, special attention is being given to 160 identified Lok Sabha seats across the country. The target is to strengthen the party at over one lakh polling booths.
