Patna: JD(U) national president Nitish Kumar is set to tour Bihar in October, marking his first statewide outreach since stepping down as chief minister.
Nitish has entrusted party working president Sanjay Kumar Jha with preparing a roadmap for the proposed tour. The two leaders held two meetings at Nitish’s Patna residence on Tuesday to discuss the plan.
According to JD(U) sources, the party is considering October 2, Gandhi Jayanti, as the starting date, with Champaran proposed as the first destination. The dates have not yet been finalised and are expected to be announced after consultations with party leaders and district office-bearers.
Tour To Cover All 38 Districts
Jha confirmed after meeting Nitish that the former chief minister would undertake a statewide tour.
Nitish is expected to visit all 38 districts, accompanied by senior JD(U) leaders and local party representatives. He will interact with party workers and members of the public and review development and welfare initiatives being implemented by the state government.
The tour is also expected to provide Nitish with an opportunity to directly engage with the party’s organisational network across Bihar.
First Statewide Tour Since Leaving CM’s Post
Nitish stepped down as Bihar chief minister on April 14 after becoming a Rajya Sabha member. He subsequently handed over the chief minister’s post to Samrat Chaudhary, the BJP’s leader in the ruling alliance.
Despite leaving the chief minister’s office, Nitish has remained politically active, holding meetings with ministers, party office-bearers and supporters.
He has undertaken statewide tours on 16 occasions during his political career. The tradition began in 2005 with the Nyay Yatra, followed by several tours under different names during his tenure as chief minister.
Before last year’s Bihar assembly elections, Nitish undertook the Pragati Yatra. After the election, he toured almost all districts earlier this year as part of the Samriddhi Yatra, which was his final statewide tour while serving as chief minister.
The proposed October tour would mark a new phase of Nitish’s political engagement with the state after his move from the chief minister’s office to the Rajya Sabha.
