Patna: Patna’s Gandhi Maidan was thronged with people on Thursday, hours before Nitish Kumar was due to be sworn in, as the city’s political temperature rose in anticipation of the ceremony. Crowds began assembling from early morning, filling the vast ground and its newly erected structures to capacity.
A sprawling pandal and a flower-laden main stage stood at the centre of the preparations, signalling the scale of the event. The stage—built to host the chief minister-designate, incoming ministers and invited dignitaries from across the country—was surrounded by rangoli and decorative arrangements, lending the venue a festive air.
Men, women and young people arrived in large numbers, many carrying party flags, banners and wearing colours representing their political loyalties. Groups of students and first-time voters were seen taking selfies, adding to an atmosphere that blended celebration with political fervour.
Authorities had set up separate barricades and entry points for attendees travelling from distant districts, while a designated VIP gallery was cordoned off near the stage. A multi-layered security arrangement was put in place to manage the swelling crowds and ensure a peaceful ceremony.
Giant cutouts of political leaders towered over both sides of the ground, their posters and party flags rippling in the breeze. The mood among the gathering was a mix of patriotic sentiment and political enthusiasm, as though much of Patna had turned up to witness what many described as a moment of historic significance.
As the scheduled time approached, the crowd continued to thicken. With the stage set and arrangements meticulously laid out, the public waited eagerly for the ceremony that would mark the formation of Bihar’s new government.
