The electoral fervour surrounding Bihar's upcoming assembly elections has extended beyond state lines, with the Haryana unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launching an ambitious mobilisation campaign to ferry hundreds of thousands of migrant workers back home to vote. Dubbed informally as "Every Vote Matters", the initiative underscores the party's commitment to maximising voter turnout among Bihar natives employed in Haryana's bustling industrial corridors. As polling dates approach—November 6 and 11, 2025, with results set for November 14—the campaign highlights the growing influence of migration on India's democratic process.

Senior Haryana BJP leaders revealed that the drive targets over one lakh registered voters from Bihar, primarily factory workers scattered across 10 districts in the state's northern and southern industrial belts. Key hubs include Gurugram and Faridabad in the National Capital Region, as well as Palwal, Jhajjar, Rohtak, Sonipat, Panipat, and Karnal, where manufacturing and garment industries rely heavily on labour from eastern states. "These workers form the backbone of Haryana's economy but often miss elections due to tight schedules and travel costs," a party functionary told NDTV.

The BJP has established dedicated helplines and coordination cells to register participants, ensuring seamless logistics from identification to departure. Special buses are slated to commence operations on November 1, aligning with the Election Commission's two-phase schedule for the 243-seat Bihar Legislative Assembly. This proactive outreach not only empowers migrants but also amplifies the BJP's presence in Bihar, where it contests as part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) alongside Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's Janata Dal (United).

The campaign's scale reflects broader challenges in India's migrant labour ecosystem, where over 10 million Biharis seek opportunities in urban centres like Haryana and Delhi, according to recent government estimates. Migration has long been a double-edged sword for Bihar: it alleviates local unemployment but drains talent and depresses wages back home. In the 2020 Bihar polls, migrant voting initiatives by parties like the BJP helped boost turnout to 57.05%, though absenteeism remained high at around 20% due to logistical hurdles.

This year's effort builds on that, incorporating digital tools for real-time tracking and partnerships with local transport unions to subsidise fares. Critics, including opposition leaders from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), have dubbed it a "vote-buying tactic", but BJP spokespersons counter that it democratises access, framing voting as a civic festival that transcends borders.

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As the November polls near, the "Every Vote Matters" drive could sway marginal seats in Bihar's labour-exporting districts like Siwan and Gopalganj, where migrant remittances fuel 30% of the rural economy. By addressing barriers like employer leave policies and high travel costs—often exceeding ₹2,000 per round trip—the BJP aims to set a precedent for inclusive electoral strategies nationwide. With the NDA defending a slim majority amid anti-incumbency over jobs and inflation, every ballot counts. Haryana's initiative not only bridges the geographic divide but also spotlights the urgent need for policies supporting migrant rights, potentially reshaping future campaigns in a nation where internal migration affects 450 million people.

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