The dust of Gandhi Maidan rose to meet a horizon of saffron and green as 32 ministers took oath to join the Samrat Choudhary cabinet. Under the watchful eyes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the state capital turned into a theatre of political transition. The air vibrated with the constant rhythm of 'Jai Shri Ram' and 'Jai Modi ji', a chorus that defined the mood of a crowd which had travelled hundreds of kilometres to witness a new guard taking charge.
A Sea of Saffron and Green: The Visual Spectacle
A woman constable deployed at the Maidan said nearly 80% of the audience comprised women. The visual centrepiece of the gathering was a coordinated wave of yellow and orange sarees. More than 30,000 Jeevika workers were brought from every district of Bihar to fill the stands. Among them were Nirmala Devi and Sushma Kumari, who arrived from Bikram with nearly 2,000 others. Despite their coordinated appearance — they were specifically asked to wear yellow sarees with red blouses — their mood reflected quiet observation rather than unrestrained celebration.
'Initially, we did not want to come, but since we were asked, we obliged,' Nirmala said. For many women, the day also carried a sense of disappointment. 'We expected the CM to say something about Jeevika, but they did not acknowledge our presence, even though we were asked specifically to come. The govt talks so much about women's empowerment, yet the representation is so weak in this cabinet,' she added.
Logistical Challenges and Mixed Reactions
The logistical scale of the event pushed the maidan to its limits. Deepali Kumari and Geeta Devi travelled from Siwan in a bus carrying 40 people, leaving at 4 am. By the time they reached the gates at 10 am, the grounds had become inaccessible. They remained outside and watched the ceremony on giant screens.
'We are very sad to see Nitish not being a part of this newly formed govt, but we were excited to see Modi ji,' Geeta said. 'We do not know what Samrat has in store, but we are expecting him to work in our favour.' In contrast, Jamila Kumari from Naubatpur viewed the day as the closing of an era. 'While everyone came to get a glimpse of Modi ji, I only came for Nitish Kumar and to celebrate the end of his tenure,' she said.
Enthusiasm from Distant Regions
The enthusiasm appeared more intense among those arriving from distant parts of the state. Four buses carrying 200 people from Kishanganj reached Patna by 6 am after an 11-hour journey. 'We did not want to risk missing this,' Raju Kumar Pal said. 'This is not only a celebration for the BJP chief minister in Bihar, but we are also celebrating the BJP wins in Bengal and Assam. Modi hai toh mumkin hai!'
Soni Devi, Kishanganj district mahila morcha president, echoed the optimism and credited the Prime Minister with bringing visible changes. 'He has done so much for women, from building washrooms to providing jobs. Bihar will only get better from now on,' she said.
Subdued Atmosphere Compared to Previous Ceremonies
However, the atmosphere lacked the festive chaos seen during previous ceremonies. Unlike the oath-taking event in November, there were no dhols or spontaneous dancing. Mahesh Singh from Sheikhpura noticed a clear shift in energy, while his companion Rakesh Kumar pointed to the deteriorating conditions inside the grounds.
'The management was not up to the mark,' Rakesh said, gesturing towards the malfunctioning infrastructure. 'The LCD screen in front of me was not working, none of the fans was switched on, and there was water and sludge everywhere. Even though we wanted to see the ceremony, the poor facilities dampened the vibe.'
As the last minister took oath, the crowd slowly dispersed into the streets of Patna. Behind the grand display of colours and the presence of national leaders lay a complex public mood — a mix of loyalist celebration, administrative fatigue and quiet expectation from a state waiting to see what the new political arrangement would deliver.
