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Patna, Oct 23 (IANS) With Bihar Assembly elections scheduled to be held in two phases on November 6 and 11, just days after the Chhath Puja festival, the BJP faces a crucial challenge – convincing millions of migrant workers to stay and vote before returning to their workplaces in India and abroad.
According to official data, every year more than 48 lakh Biharis return home for the Chhath festival, including 45.78 lakh domestic migrants and 2.17 lakh people working abroad.
However, many people are reluctant to wait an extra week or more until polling day because they fear financial loss due to missing work.
To deal with this, the BJP has launched an intensive booth-level campaign aimed at ensuring maximum voter retention. Within 48 hours of the conclusion of Chhath, party workers have been instructed to conduct door-to-door visits and convince the returning migrants and their families to stay till the elections are over.
A BJP source said, “Staying on after Chhath because of their jobs is a tough task for many workers, but we are trying to help – from explaining the importance of voting to reaching out to employers if needed. It is not just about votes, it is about encouraging participation in democracy.”
Local units of the party have also been tasked with providing logistical support including transportation and assistance in coordinating the smooth return journey after the elections.
Recognizing that migrant voters can be decisive in closely contested constituencies, the BJP has mobilized its organizational network, from the Panna Pramukh system to booth workers and district level leaders, to establish personal relationships with these voters.
The districts with the highest number of voters of migrant origin include East Champaran (6.14 lakh), Patna (5.68 lakh), Siwan (5.48 lakh), Muzaffarpur (4.31 lakh) and Darbhanga (4.3 lakh).
Most of these constituencies are scheduled to go to polls in the first phase, making retention of migrants an important electoral factor.
As the festive fervor of Chhath moves towards the election season, the BJP is committed to ensuring that “the homecoming for Chhath also becomes the homecoming of democracy.”
–IANS
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