Attempt to regain lost grounds? Nitish to hold 'Sampark Yatra' across Bihar

Patna, Oct 25: Senior JD(U) leader and former Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar's 'Sampark Yatra' from November 13, apparently to launch campaign for the Assembly polls next year, will be a whirlwind tour where he will address 32 public meetings in as many districts.

Releasing details of the 16-day 'Yatra' from November 13 to 29, JD(U) state president Vashitha Narayan Singh on Saturday said it will galvanise the party, strengthen it at the grassroot level and prepare workers to meet challenges.

Talking to media persons, Singh said the tour has been planned as a political summit across the districts.

"The aim of Kumar's Yatra is to activate the party at the grassroot level, energise and strengthen it and make party workers aware about the present political situation. It will prepare the workers to meet future challenges," Singh said.

Singh said the senior JD(U) leader will hold two public meetings in different districts almost everyday during the 16-day tour across 32 of the 40 districts of the state. The 'Yatra' will kickstart from Bettiah in West Champaran district and terminate at Patna.

"He will leave Patna on November 12 itself and halt at Bettiah during the night to address party workers and people the next day. He will move to Motihari in neighbouring East Champaran district later and address another public meeting the same day. He will altogether address 32 public meetings during the tour," Singh said.

The JD(U) state president said Kumar will hold the Yatra in his capacity as a big and senior leader of the party, and not as the "former chief minister or future chief minister".

Singh said though it is a party activity, Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi and other ministers of the state Cabinet can also participate in the Yatra if they want.

"The CM and ministers may also participate in the Yatra if they want. They have not been barred from attending," Singh added.

Nitish Kumar, during his tenure as the Chief Minister, had embarked on three 'yatras' across Bihar -- Vikas Yatra in 2009, Seva Yatra in 2011 and Adhikar Yatra in 2013. All the three state-wide tours had commenced from Bettiah.

PTI