Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is set to launch a comprehensive statewide tour, named the 'Samriddhi Yatra', beginning January 16, 2025. The journey will commence two days after the Makar Sankranti festival, as per an official notification issued by Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit.
A Legacy of Yatras Continues
This upcoming tour will be the 17th yatra of Nitish Kumar's political career. He has a long history of undertaking such journeys, both in the pre-2005 period and during his tenure as Chief Minister. The notification confirms that the CM will visit every district in Bihar during this Samriddhi Yatra.
The primary objective of the yatra is to conduct spot inspections of projects that were initiated during his previous 'Pragati Yatra' and under the government's 'Saat Nischay' programme. Additionally, he will review other significant projects currently underway across the state.
Agenda: Review, Inaugurate, and Engage
During his district visits, the Chief Minister's schedule will be packed with official and public engagements. Key activities will include:
- Laying foundation stones for new important projects.
- Inaugurating or commissioning completed projects.
- Participating in 'Jan Samvad' (public dialogue) programmes to interact directly with citizens.
- Reviewing the progress of ongoing development schemes and works.
The state government has directed all concerned District Magistrates to make timely preparations for the Chief Minister's visit. During inspection and review meetings, departmental heads are mandated to be present. Senior officials, including the Director General of Police (DGP) and those directly associated with and knowledgeable about the projects, will attend the review sessions. The notification strictly advised that officials other than departmental heads should be deputed only under unavoidable circumstances.
Political Significance and Past Tours
JD(U) national spokesman Rajiv Ranjan Prasad reflected on the nature of Nitish Kumar's yatras, stating that the hallmark of his pre-2005 tours was an emphasis on forming a government to fulfil the aspirations of Bihar's people. He noted that the CM has always blended politics with development, avoiding what he called "run-of-the-mill politics of hitting rivals below the belt."
Echoing this sentiment, the party's state spokesman, Arvind Nishad, emphasized that "His 17th yatra, too, is about the state’s development."
The most recent tour before this was the 'Pragati Yatra', which started from Valmikinagar in West Champaran district on December 23, 2024, and continued into early summer of last year. That tour involved reviewing district-level projects and approving new ones based on suggestions from local communities.
The upcoming Samriddhi Yatra represents a continuation of Nitish Kumar's hands-on governance style, focusing on direct oversight and public connection to steer Bihar's development trajectory.
