Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju addressed the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sammelan at Hotel Coral Cove in Sri Vijaya Puram, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, on Saturday, 20 June 2026, as part of the BJP's ongoing nationwide outreach to highlight the central government's governance record over the past twelve years.

Context

The sammelan brought together senior party functionaries and grassroots workers from across the Union Territory. Rijiju was joined by Anil Kumar Tiwari, State President of BJP Andaman and Nicobar; Mohan Halder, BJP State Vice President; and Raghunath Kulkarni, BJP In-charge for the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, along with other dignitaries and dedicated karyakartas.

The event was tagged under the hashtag #12YearsOfSeva — marking twelve years of the BJP-led central government — underscoring the political messaging woven into the outreach programme.

Policy Backdrop

The Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra was launched in November 2023 as a structured campaign to carry awareness of central welfare and development schemes directly to citizens in states and Union Territories. The initiative encompasses flagship programmes spanning health, housing, agriculture, and financial inclusion.

Andaman and Nicobar Islands, an archipelago Union Territory in the Bay of Bengal, has been a focus of central infrastructure investment, including maritime connectivity, digital infrastructure, and tourism development projects. Sammelans of this nature serve as platforms to brief local party cadres and community leaders on scheme implementation and citizen outreach.

Stakeholders and Impact

For the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, events such as this sammelan are significant given the Union Territory's dependence on central government policy for development funding and administrative direction. Local BJP karyakartas form the primary delivery channel for scheme awareness at the panchayat and ward level.

Rijiju's presence — as a Union Cabinet minister and senior party leader — signals the central leadership's attention to island constituencies ahead of future electoral cycles. The participation of the state president and in-charge alongside a cabinet minister reinforces the party's organisational structure in the UT.

What's Next

The BJP is expected to continue holding Viksit Bharat Sankalp Sammelans across remaining states and Union Territories as part of its 'twelve years of service' communication strategy. For Andaman and Nicobar Islands specifically, attention will turn to whether parliamentary sessions see renewed focus on island development priorities, including infrastructure, connectivity, and the strategic development of the Great Nicobar Island project. Rijiju's visit may also catalyse follow-up engagement between central ministries and UT administration on pending scheme implementation targets.