PM Modi to Visit Dera Sachkhand Ballan After Padma Shri for Chief Niranjan Das

• PM Modi will visit Dera Sachkhand Ballan near Jalandhar on February 1, coinciding with Sri Guru Ravidas Jayanti.
• The visit follows the central government's announcement to award Padma Shri to Dera chief Sant Niranjan Das.
• Dera Ballan is a significant center for the Ravidassia community and holds influence over Punjab's large Dalit vote bank, especially in the Doaba region.
• Punjab has the highest Dalit population in India at 32%, with Doaba having about 45% SC population, influencing 19 out of 23 assembly seats.
• The visit is seen as a strategic move by BJP to strengthen its presence in Punjab after breaking ties with Akali Dal, aiming to be a 'game changer'.

Why It Matters: PM Modi's visit to Dera Ballan, following Padma Shri for its chief, is a strategic move to woo Punjab's Dalit vote bank.