Bihar: Amit Shah to address BJP rally at Purnia on September 23

PATNA: Combining official and political agenda, Union home minister Amit Shah will be in the Seemanchal region of Bihar on his two-day visit next month.
State BJP spokesman Prem Ranjan Patel said Shah would address a rally of the party workers and sympathisers from the 11 districts at Purnia on September 23 and his official meeting at Kishanganj on September 24.
As far as the Shah's official meeting is concerned, the seven districts of Purnia and Kosi divisions along or close to the Indo-Nepal border are strategically very sensitive from the point of view of national security. On the other hand, the four districts of Purnia, Katihar, Araria and Kishanganj in the Seemanchal region have a significant chunk of Muslim population and has also been on the BJP's political map for long owing to the Bangla infiltration. Recently, fears have also surfaced regarding the likely formation of the sleeper cells of militant groups in the area.
Incidentally, this would be Shah's first visit to Bihar after the formation of the new Mahagathbandhan government by CM Nitish Kumar with RJD, Congress and others. Shah's visit is also aimed at rejuvenating the party in the state.
The 11 districts from where the BJP workers and sympathisers would turn up for the September 23 rally are Purnia, Katihar, Araria, Kishanganj, Saharsa, Madhepura, Supaul, Bhagalpur, Banka, Khagaria and from Naugachhia which is designated as the party's district.
Observers feel that Shah, by deciding to address a rally at Purnia, has set his eyes on the 2024 parliamentary elections, as the BJP will try to win at least 35 of the 40 parliamentary seats in Bihar. In themselves, the 11 districts account for 10 parliamentary seats - Purnia, Katihar, Araria, Kishanganj, Saharsa, Supaul, Madhepura, Bhagalpur, Banka and Khagaria.
Incidentally, It will be Shah's third visit to Bihar this year after the first on April 23 and the second on July 31, when he addressed the joint national executive committee meeting of the BJP's seven frontal organisations. In his address, Shah had announced that BJP and JD(U) would contest the 2024 parliamentary and 2025 assembly elections together. The same day, BJP national president J P Nadda said the BJP's fight was with the regional parties after the Congress had been decimated and marginalized. Curiously, the NDA government led by Nitish fell on August 9.