Oath-Taking Ceremony to Be Held at Gandhi Maidan After Ten Years; Officials’ Leaves Cancelled Till November 20

Patna (The Uttam Hindu): Preparations are in full swing at Gandhi Maidan for the upcoming oath-taking ceremony of the new Bihar government. On Monday, teams from the district administration, police, municipal corporation, and various agencies inspected the venue to review arrangements. To ensure smooth crowd and security management, the entire ground has been divided into several zones. The General Administration Department has deputed 25 Bihar Administrative Service (BAS) officers, including five specifically assigned to manage VIP guests.

The main stage is being built according to VVIP security standards. Arrangements for barricading, a separate entry route for special guests, a designated media zone, and seating for visitors are being finalized. Multiple agencies have been assigned responsibilities for the pandal, sound, and lighting setups. Divisional Commissioner Animesh Kumar Parashar, Range IG Jitendra Rana, and District Magistrate Dr. Tyagarajan S.M. inspected the ground and issued necessary directions. Materials related to pandal construction continued to be unloaded throughout the day.

Municipal teams conducted a cleanliness drive across the venue. Public facilities such as drinking water counters, mobile toilets, fire safety equipment, and other amenities are being arranged. Officials said all departments are working in coordination to ensure a grand, safe, and well-organized ceremony. A large gathering of political leaders, dignitaries, and the general public is expected.

This will be the first oath-taking ceremony at Gandhi Maidan in ten years. The last event held here was in 2015, which saw participation from several chief ministers. After the formation of the NDA government, Nitish Kumar took his first oath at Gandhi Maidan in 2005, followed by ceremonies in 2010 and 2015. In 2020, the event was held at Raj Bhavan due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Considering the ongoing preparations, the Patna District Magistrate has cancelled leave for all district officials until November 20. Officers at the district, subdivision, and block levels including technical and supervisory staff cannot take leave during this period. In exceptional circumstances, leave requests must be submitted with clear justification through the senior in-charge to the DM’s office, and only after approval will officers be permitted to leave headquarters.