Patna: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to arrive in Patna at around 11.10am today to attend Nitish Kumar’s swearing-in ceremony, which will draw an unusually large gathering of senior NDA leaders and chief ministers from nearly 20 states. The main programme at Gandhi Maidan will run for about 40 minutes, from 11.30am to 12.10pm, under an extensive three-tier security grid.
Officials said Gandhi Maidan has been transformed into a fortified venue, with three stages under construction. The main dais will seat the prime minister, governor, chief minister and other senior leaders. A second stage will be used for VIP seating, while a third is being prepared for cultural performances.
Chartered flights began touching down at Patna airport on Wednesday, with Uttar Pradesh’s deputy chief minister, Brajesh Pathak, and Madhya Pradesh’s chief minister, Mohan Yadav, among the early arrivals. Late in the evening, Maharashtra’s chief minister, Devendra Fadnavis, and minister Eknath Shinde reached Patna on separate chartered aircraft.
More than a dozen chartered planes are expected to land between Thursday morning and 1pm, carrying chief ministers, cabinet ministers and other senior leaders from BJP-ruled states. Airport security has been strengthened, with additional units deployed across the premises.
Three special helipads have been constructed inside Gandhi Maidan toward Kargil Chowk for PM Modi’s arrival, prepared under the supervision of the SPG. A full-scale rehearsal was held on Wednesday in the presence of senior police and administrative officials. PM Modi will fly from Patna airport to Gandhi Maidan by helicopter and is expected to remain at the venue for about an hour.
Authorities said the arrangements reflect both the scale of political participation and the heightened security considerations surrounding the event, which marks Nitish Kumar’s 10th swearing-in as Bihar’s chief minister.
