The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is stepping up its political activities in Punjab ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections. Party president Nitin Nabin is scheduled to visit Jalandhar on November 18 to flag off the 'Samrasta Yatra', dedicated to the 650th birth anniversary celebrations of Sant Guru Ravidas.
 

The yatra, which is being organised as a major outreach initiative focused on an influential Scheduled Caste community, will begin in Jalandhar and conclude in Varanasi on December 5.
 

The nationwide campaign will cover 46 cities across seven states and Union Territories, including Punjab, Chandigarh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh.
 

A senior BJP source said the yatra would commence near Dera Sachkhand Ballan in Jalandhar on November 18. Nitin Nabin will formally flag off the programme and address a large gathering on the occasion.
 

The Ravidasia community is one of Punjab's prominent Dalit socio-religious groups and follows the teachings of Sant Guru Ravidas, the 15th-century saint associated with the Bhakti movement.
 

Dera Sachkhand Ballan, located in Ballan village near Jalandhar, is regarded as the community's largest and most influential spiritual centre. Prime Minister Narendra Modi also visited the dera recently.
 

The institution has played a significant role in shaping the community's distinct religious identity, social welfare initiatives and political influence.
 

The Ravidasia community is considered an important electoral constituency in Punjab, with political parties making sustained efforts over the years to strengthen their connections with it.
 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is personally leading the celebrations associated with the occasion. Varanasi, his Lok Sabha constituency, is also regarded as the birthplace of Sant Guru Ravidas.
 

The Samrasta Yatra's conclusion in Varanasi on December 5 is expected to mark the culmination of the BJP's outreach programme across the seven states and Union Territories.