Patna: Independence Day celebrations at Patna’s historic Gandhi Maidan marked a significant moment this year, with Samrat Choudhary hoisting the national flag at the venue for the first time and addressing the people of Bihar.
Before Choudhary, Nitish Kumar had hoisted the tricolour at Gandhi Maidan 18 times as chief minister, making him the leader with the highest number of Independence Day flag-hoistings at the venue.
Nitish Kumar’s Long Tenure As Chief Minister
Nitish Kumar first became chief minister of Bihar on March 3, 2000. His first term lasted seven days before he resigned on March 10.
He returned as chief minister in November 2005 and remained at the centre of Bihar’s government for most of the years that followed. Jitan Ram Manjhi served as chief minister for a brief period during this tenure.
During his time in office, Nitish Kumar regularly hoisted the national flag at Gandhi Maidan on Independence Day and addressed the state from the venue.
From Socialist Politics To Bihar’s Leadership
Born on March 1, 1951, in Bakhtiyarpur, Nitish Kumar was influenced by the socialist movement and leaders including Ram Manohar Lohia, Jayaprakash Narayan and V.P. Singh.
His father, Ram Lakhan Singh, was a freedom fighter associated with Gandhian ideology. Nitish Kumar studied engineering at Bihar College of Engineering in Patna before entering politics.
He was actively involved in the JP movement, which helped shape his political career and strengthened his association with socialist politics.
Career In National Politics
Nitish Kumar represented the Barh Lok Sabha constituency in successive elections from 1989 to 2004 before taking on several responsibilities in national politics.
He served as a Cabinet minister in Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s government between 2001 and 2004, including as Union railway minister.
Vajpayee remained an important influence in Nitish Kumar’s political career. A prominent road in Patna was also named after the former prime minister.
The Independence Day ceremony at Gandhi Maidan this year therefore marked not only Choudhary’s first flag-hoisting at the venue, but also a change from the long period in which Nitish Kumar had led the state’s Independence Day celebrations there.
