A high-profile delegation of foreign diplomats, currently stationed in India, has begun a two-day immersive visit to Bihar, a state gearing up for its assembly elections. This unique tour, announced by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday, offers international representatives a firsthand experience of India’s dynamic election season.
Dr. Vijay Chauthhaiwale, head of the BJP’s foreign affairs department, confirmed that diplomats from a diverse group of nations including Japan, Indonesia, Australia, the United Kingdom, Bhutan, and South Africa are participating in the November 2-3 tour. He emphasized that the initiative aims to provide these diplomats with a deeper understanding of the BJP’s operational mechanisms, extensive outreach efforts, and organizational prowess, alongside an on-the-ground perspective of India’s electoral engagement at the grassroots level.
This visit is part of the “Know BJP” program, a strategic outreach initiative launched by BJP National President J.P. Nadda. The program’s core objective is to introduce foreign diplomats and political figures to the BJP’s ideology, structure, and functioning.
Past iterations of the “Know BJP” initiative have seen similar foreign delegations visit other Indian states like Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, and Rajasthan during their respective assembly elections. These earlier tours allowed diplomats to closely observe the BJP’s election management and campaign practices.
Furthermore, during the significant 2024 general election, political representatives from a wide array of countries, including Nepal, Australia, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Israel, Uganda, Tanzania, Sri Lanka, and Mauritius, were also invited under the “Know BJP” umbrella. They gained valuable insights into the party’s nationwide general election campaign and even had the opportunity to engage with India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, during their stay.