The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is preparing a major political and social outreach initiative in Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, with party national president Nitin Nabin scheduled to visit Jalandhar on November 18 to flag off the Samrasta Sankalp Yatra, marking the 650th birth anniversary year of Sant Guru Ravidas.
The yatra will begin from Dera Sachkhand Ballan near Jalandhar and conclude at Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh on December 3. The initiative is being organised as part of the BJP's nationwide celebrations of Sant Guru Ravidas's teachings, with a focus on social harmony, equality and brotherhood.
Nitin Nabin to flag off yatra from Dera Ballan
According to reports, Nitin Nabin will flag off the yatra from near Dera Sachkhand Ballan and address a gathering during the launch event.
The 18-day journey is expected to cover approximately 2,558 kilometres across Punjab, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
The programme will include religious congregations, public meetings and activities highlighting the teachings of Sant Guru Ravidas. BJP leaders have said the initiative aims to spread his message of social equality, human welfare, dignity of labour and harmony.
Why Jalandhar and Dera Sachkhand Ballan matter
The decision to begin the yatra from Jalandhar carries significance because of the city's association with Dera Sachkhand Ballan, one of the most prominent spiritual centres of the Ravidassia community in Punjab.
Located in Ballan village, near Jalandhar, the dera has considerable religious and social influence among followers of Sant Guru Ravidas. The Ravidassia community represents an important section of Punjab's Scheduled Caste population and has remained politically significant in the state.
Over the years, political parties across the spectrum have engaged with the community, recognising its influence in Punjab's electoral landscape.
The BJP's decision to begin the nationwide outreach from Dera Ballan, therefore, also places Punjab at the centre of its preparations for the upcoming Assembly elections. The political significance of the initiative has also been highlighted in recent reports covering the proposed yatra.
PM Modi's earlier visit to Dera Ballan
The proposed yatra follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Dera Sachkhand Ballan on February 1, 2026, on the occasion of the 649th birth anniversary of Sant Guru Ravidas.
During the visit, the Prime Minister paid tributes to the saint and met Dera head Sant Niranjan Dass. Modi also highlighted the contribution of the dera to social service and spoke about the relevance of Guru Ravidas's teachings in building an inclusive society.
Earlier that day, the Prime Minister also announced the renaming of Adampur Airport as Sri Guru Ravidas Maharaj Ji Airport, Adampur.
The Prime Minister has repeatedly referred to Guru Ravidas's message of equality and social harmony, linking his teachings with the broader vision of an inclusive society.
650th birth anniversary celebrations to culminate in February 2027
The BJP has announced a nationwide programme to commemorate the 650th birth anniversary year of Sant Guru Ravidas. The celebrations are scheduled to continue until February 20, 2027, which coincides with Maghi Purnima and the saint's birth anniversary.
The party's broader Samrasta Sankalp Abhiyan includes religious, cultural and social programmes intended to take the saint's teachings to different parts of the country.
The Jalandhar-to-Varanasi yatra is among the major initiatives planned under this campaign. Varanasi holds particular significance as the birthplace of Sant Guru Ravidas and is also Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Lok Sabha constituency.
BJP's Punjab outreach ahead of 2027 elections
The timing of the yatra is also significant as Punjab moves closer to the 2027 Assembly elections. With the BJP looking to strengthen its organisational presence in the state, outreach among socially and politically influential communities is likely to remain an important part of its preparations.
The party's engagement with Dera Sachkhand Ballan and the launch of a nationwide programme from Jalandhar bring religious, social and political dimensions together.
However, the extent to which the initiative translates into wider political support in Punjab will depend on several factors, including the BJP's organisational strategy, its electoral arrangements and its engagement with local issues.
For now, Jalandhar is set to become the starting point of the BJP's 18-day Samrasta Sankalp Yatra, placing the city in focus as preparations for the 2027 Punjab Assembly elections gather momentum.
