Patna: The 18th Bihar Assembly convened for its first session on Monday, with newly elected members taking their oaths and ministers being sworn in. The opening proceedings were marked by a mix of formal protocol and symbolic gestures among the state’s top political leaders.
Samrat Choudhary, who took the oath earlier, was greeted by opposition leader Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, who stood from his seat to shake hands. Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sinha, following his oath, touched Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s feet, a gesture steeped in tradition, while Yadav and the Chief Minister exchanged a brief symbolic gesture.
The front row of the House was occupied by the Chief Minister alongside ministers Vijay Choudhary, Shravan Kumar, and Mangal Pandey, with the second row taken by ministers Lesy Singh, Nitin Nabin, Ramkripal Yadav, Shreyasi Singh, Jama Khan, and Sanjay Singh Tiger. Subsequent oath-taking included Gayaji Prem Kumar, opposition leader Tejashwi Yadav, and Arun Shankar Prasad, who took his oath in Maithili.
The session also saw notable arrivals and gestures from veteran politicians. Ajay Dangi, MLA from Tekari in Gaya, arrived at the Assembly in an auto-rickshaw, while eight-time BJP MLA Prem Kumar bowed to the House. RJD MLA Bhai Virendra, speaking to the press, criticised the new government, stating: “This government was formed through vote theft. The public did not elect them. Our numbers may be small, but our voice is just as loud.”
