Starting today, March 22, 2025, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including Union ministers, will participate in week-long Bihar Diwas celebrations across nearly 75 locations in India, targeting areas with significant Bihari populations.

The events commemorate Bihar’s formation as a separate state on March 22, 1912, when it was carved out of the Bengal Presidency. This nationwide outreach, dubbed "Sneh Milan," aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s "Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat" vision to celebrate India’s diverse cultural tapestry.

With Bihar’s assembly elections looming later this year, the BJP, allied with Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s Janata Dal (United) in the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA), aims to strengthen ties with the state’s influential migrant community. Biharis, spread across the country for work and education, maintain deep connections with their home state, shaping political sentiments both locally and beyond.

Party sources said leaders are tasked with spotlighting Bihar’s rich heritage and the NDA’s development efforts to transform it into a "viksit" (developed) state.

BJP leaders emphasized that such celebrations are routine, citing similar programs for other states under the "Ek Bharat Shrestha Bharat" banner. “Celebrating the heritage and culture of all Indian states is a core part of our agenda,” a senior leader noted.

The events, spanning over a week, will feature cultural showcases and discussions, reinforcing the party’s narrative of unity and progress as it gears up for a critical electoral battle in Bihar, where it currently holds 84 seats in the 243-member assembly.