The first session of the 18th Legislative Assembly witnessed the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected members, but the event drew attention due to multiple unusual moments. The wife of jailed strongman Rajballabh, JDU MLA from Nawada, Vibha Devi, struggled to read the oath paper and failed to pronounce several words correctly. She hesitated, paused repeatedly, and eventually asked fellow MLA Manorama Devi, who was seated beside her, to guide her through the text. With prompts from Manorama Devi, Vibha Devi somehow completed the oath in broken and unclear words. In another incident, Anita Devi, MLA from Warisaliganj and wife of infamous strongman Ashok Mahto, began her oath with political references. As she started speaking, she said, “I, Anita, daughter of the Bahujan community, take blessings from our ancestors and Baba Saheb…” Before she could continue, the Protem Speaker stopped her and instructed her to follow the prescribed oath format. She then restarted and completed her oath as per the constitutional guidelines. A similar situation arose when BJP MLA and former Deputy Chief Minister Renu Devi from Bettiah took the oath incorrectly. The Protem Speaker intervened immediately, corrected her, and made her repeat the oath in the proper manner. Among all these moments, the most remarkable highlight came from the youngest MLA, Maithili Thakur, who proudly took her oath in her native Maithili language. Representing the Alinagar constituency of Darbhanga on a BJP ticket, Maithili created a cultural moment inside the Assembly. Wearing a traditional Madhubani saree, she stood confidently and recited the oath in Maithili, showcasing her deep connection with her linguistic and cultural identity. Before entering the House, Maithili expressed her emotions, stating, “Today marks a new chapter in my life. Taking the oath will officially make me a legislator. This is a big day for me.” While speaking to the media, she further said that she would work with full dedication to justify the trust and expectations that the people of her constituency have placed on her. Her humility and soft-spoken nature have earned her admiration across Bihar. Maithili emphasised that she would focus on development issues and ensure that the concerns of the people are strongly raised in the Assembly. As she entered the Assembly premises, leaders from her party as well as MLAs from other parties congratulated her warmly. Calling the moment both emotional and overwhelming, she said that stepping inside the House for the first time came with a mix of respect and responsibility. The oath-taking ceremony, though meant to be a formal and disciplined event, turned into a session marked by errors, hesitations and unexpected interruptions. However, Maithili’s calm, confident and culturally rooted oath stood out, becoming the highlight of the day. Meanwhile, political developments outside the Bihar Assembly also made headlines across the country. Ahead of the Parliament Winter Session, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the media and targeted the opposition, saying some political parties are unable to accept their defeat. The Winter Session began on Monday, and the Lok Sabha proceedings faced disruption from the very beginning due to opposition protests. Many MPs rushed to the Well of the House, forcing the Speaker to adjourn the session till noon. When the House reconvened, the opposition once again created uproar demanding the withdrawal of the SIR. The continued protests led to the adjournment of Lok Sabha proceedings until the next day.
Maithili Thakur Takes Oath in Maithili, Others Struggle in Bihar Assembly
