'Panchayat to Parliament': Nitin Nabin underlines BJP's grassroots-first approach in first visit to Bihar since elevation

BJP working president Nitin Nabin at a roadhow in Patna on Tuesday. (Image: X/@NitinNabin)

In his first visit to Bihar since being elevated as the BJP's national working president, five-time Bankipur MLA Nitin Nabin used the homecoming to send a clear message to party cadre and rivals that the BJP intends to entrench itself across every rung of power, from village councils to the national legislature, with no space for what he termed as "part-time politicians".

Addressing a packed gathering at the BJP state office in Patna after a show of strength marked by a massive roadshow from the airport, Nabin exhorted workers to prepare for a sustained political battle beyond Assembly elections. "Our goal is not limited to winning one election. We have to unfurl the saffron flag from panchayat to Parliament," he said, urging cadres to start groundwork for the upcoming panchayat and local body polls.

The BJP leader was flanked by Union ministers Giriraj Singh, Nityanand Rai and Satish Chandra Dubey, party’s state president Sanjay Saraogi, Deputy CMs Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha, MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, former Union minister Ashwini Kumar Choubey, former Assembly Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav, state ministers Mangal Pandey and Dilip Jaiswal and BJP’s national spokesperson Guru Prakash Paswan.

Without naming Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Nabin repeatedly attacked "part-time politicians" who, he said, "appear during elections and disappear abroad", accusing them of defaming constitutional institutions like the Election Commission at home and "speaking ill of the country" overseas. He also took a veiled swipe at RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav for skipping the recent Assembly session while travelling abroad.

Nabin's remarks were not incidental. His elevation and the messaging from his Bihar visit underline the BJP's attempt to consolidate its post-election narrative after the NDA's landslide victory of 202 seats in the recent Assembly polls.

"The process of punishing part-time politicians began in Bihar," Nabin claimed, adding that the momentum would now carry into states like West Bengal and Kerala.

The BJP's choice of Nitin Nabin itself is politically significant. A former state minister and a leader with deep organisational roots, he represents the BJP’s emphasis on making a generational shift and promoting long-serving cadre rather than parachuted leaders. Referring to his own journey to underline internal democracy and a merit-based approach in selecting leaders within the party, Nabin described himself as "a small party worker" picked up by the BJP's "strong watchtower".

His lineage also carries weight in Bihar politics. Nabin is the son of late Navin Kishore Sinha, a former BJP MLA and JP Movement leader. Recalling his father's legacy, Nabin spoke of the emotional bond between party workers and leadership, describing the BJP as a "family" that stands by committed cadres, a contrast often drawn by the party with dynastic politics.

Senior BJP leaders present at the event sought to amplify that message. Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said Nabin's rise was proof that "a common worker can be honoured by the party's top leadership", while state BJP president Sanjay Saraogi described him as a dedicated "sangathan purush".

Politically, Nabin's Patna address also signals the BJP's intent to maintain its organisational edge in Bihar even after a decisive Assembly win. By pushing workers to focus on grassroots elections and sharpening attacks on the Opposition, the party is seeking to convert its Assembly dominance into long-term control of local institutions.

For the BJP, the elevation of a Bihar leader to a key national post and his combative home-state debut serve a dual purpose. While it rewards organisational loyalty, it also reinforces Bihar's role as a template for its broader political strategy ahead of crucial electoral battles in eastern states like West Bengal and Assam.