BJP president Nitin Nabin will commence his three-day visit to poll-bound Punjab with an obeisance at the Golden Temple in Amritsar on June 20, party sources confirmed on Thursday.
Visit to Durgiana Temple and other locations
Following the Golden Temple, Nabin will visit the Durgiana Temple, also in Amritsar. This marks his first trip to Punjab since assuming the role of BJP national president.
From Amritsar, Nabin is scheduled to travel to Jalandhar and Ludhiana, where he will engage with grassroots workers of the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). A major event is planned in Ludhiana on June 21, where Nabin is expected to address approximately 7,500 party workers and leaders.
Significance of the visit
Party leaders emphasized that the visit carries multiple layers of significance. As Nabin's inaugural trip to the state as national president, it underscores the central leadership's focus on Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections. The BJP has decided to contest these elections independently for the first time, without an alliance with the Shiromani Akali Dal.
Starting the tour with visits to the Golden Temple and Durgiana Temple is interpreted as an effort to connect with the Sikh community and broaden the party's appeal beyond its traditional urban Hindu base. The large-scale gathering in Ludhiana aims to showcase organizational strength in the Malwa belt, a region considered critical for the party's electoral prospects in the state.
Background and coordination
A BJP leader noted that this visit follows the poll campaign launched by Union Home Minister Amit Shah in April, who announced that the BJP would ensure comprehensive development in Punjab and contest the 2027 Assembly elections independently. The final itinerary for Nabin's visit is expected to be released shortly.
Sources revealed that the party's national organization secretary, B.L. Santosh, chaired a quarterly coordination meeting with the RSS on Tuesday to discuss and finalize strategies for the Punjab elections and to ensure the success of Nabin's visit.
