Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Harsh Malhotra on Sunday, 15 November 2026 led party workers in garlanding the portrait of tribal icon Birsa Munda at the city BJP office, marking the leader's 151st birth anniversary — observed nationally as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas. Malhotra later toured Chhath ghats in east Delhi, inaugurating a newly built facility and meeting devotees across 16 permanent and temporary ghats.

Tributes to Birsa Munda

Speaking at the BJP office programme, Malhotra described Birsa Munda as 'not just a revolutionary, but a symbol of social harmony, conservation of water, forest and land, and self-respect.' He recalled Munda's 'Ulgulan' movement, saying it 'shook the foundations of British rule' and that the tribal leader raised his voice against injustice from a very young age, sacrificing everything for the protection of natural resources.

Malhotra noted that the Central government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi had declared 15 November as Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas in honour of Munda, and credited schemes such as Eklavya Model Schools, Van Dhan Yojana, and the annual observance itself as steps toward tribal upliftment. He called Munda 'an inspiration not only for the tribal society but for the youth of the entire nation.'

BJP MP Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, who also addressed the gathering, said Munda's life was 'a symbol of sacrifice, struggle and patriotism,' and that the party resolved to follow his path and ensure development reached the last person in society. The event was attended by several senior party functionaries including state office bearers Rajesh Bhatia, Praveen Shankar Kapoor, Ranjeet Kashyap, Naresh Vashishth, and others.

Chhath Ghat Inauguration in East Delhi

In a separate development on the same day, Malhotra inaugurated a Chhath Puja ghat at Namo Railway Station in New Ashok Nagar, located in his East Delhi parliamentary constituency. The ghat was set up under arrangements made by Municipal Councillor Sanjeev Singh.

Also present at the inauguration were Vijayender Dhama, BJP District President of Mayur Vihar, and Munesh Dheda, BJP Councillor. Malhotra extended greetings of Chhath Mahaparv to all devotees, saying, 'Hands offering argha to the setting and rising sun, and a mother's affectionate prayers — this is the true identity of Chhath.'

Yamuna Bank Chhath Event

At a Chhath Puja event at Yamuna Bank, organised under the guidance of Dinesh Pratap Singh, Member of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), Malhotra was joined by former BJP General Secretary Arun Singh, NDMC Member Sarita Tomar, and Lata Gupta, Chairperson of the Delhi Commission for Women, among others.

Broader Political Context

The twin events — tribal commemoration and Chhath ghat visits — reflect the BJP's sustained outreach to tribal and Purvanchal communities in Delhi ahead of civic and electoral cycles. Malhotra referenced the commitment of the Delhi BJP government under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta to the welfare of these communities. This comes amid continued political competition in the capital over outreach to communities concentrated in east and north-east Delhi constituencies.