Bengal campaign its model, why Punjab BJP steps up for Nasha Mukti Yatra before polls

The BJP is planning a series of yatras, or pilgrimages, in Punjab ahead of the 2027 Assembly elections, mirroring the success of the Parivartan Yatra in West Bengal. The proposed Nasha Mukti Yatra is set to cover all 117 Assembly constituencies and culminate in Jalandhar. The roadshow, which will begin between September 15 and 20 and run for 15-20 days, is expected to include public rallies and interactions with families affected by drug addiction.

State BJP president Kewal Singh Dhillon stated that four yatras would start simultaneously from four different corners of the state, with Union Home Minister Amit Shah likely to attend the concluding event. The BJP aims to replicate the organisational scale of its Bengal campaign, with national leaders attending daily. This campaign is set to unfold alongside the AAP government's Yudh Nasheyan Virudh campaign, which has projected a sustained crackdown on drug trafficking.