PM Modi Waves Gamcha as Nitish Kumar Takes Oath as Bihar CM for Historic 10th Time

The gesture by Modi reflected a sign-off as the new Bihar government was sworn in for the next 5 years.

New Delhi:

Janata Dal (United) President Nitish Kumar took oath as Bihar's chief minister for the 10th time during a ceremony at Patna's Gandhi Maidan. The event was filled with enthusiasm as thousands of supporters gathered, waving scarves and displaying placards featuring Kumar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Prime Minister Modi attended the swearing-in ceremony along with top leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which secured a decisive victory in the recent Bihar assembly elections.

A memorable highlight of the ceremony was when Modi waved the Gamcha (traditional scarf) to the crowd, who responded with equal enthusiasm. This gesture symbolized the conclusion of the ceremony as the newly formed Bihar government under Nitish Kumar's leadership prepared to begin its five-year term.

Previously, the prime minister had also waved a scarf on November 14 when entering the BJP headquarters in Delhi following the NDA's victory in the Bihar assembly elections.

The NDA secured 202 seats in the election, with Nitish Kumar's JD(U) winning 85 seats. Kumar currently ranks as the eighth longest-serving chief minister in India. If he completes this term, he will become the longest-serving chief minister ever, surpassing Sikkim leader Pawan Chamling's record of 24 years.

Nineteen MLAs were also sworn in during the ceremony, beginning with BJP leaders Samrat Choudhary, Vijay Sinha, and Dilip Jaiswal. These experienced politicians will form the core of the new government.