Prime Minister Inaugurates New Airport Terminal, Gears Up for Bihar Assembly Election Strategy
Patna: Prime Minister Narendra Modi arrived in Patna on May 29, 2025, for a two-day visit to Bihar, where he inaugurated the new terminal at Jayprakash Narayan International Airport and kicked off a vibrant roadshow. The event, marked by flower showers and the sound of conch shells, saw massive crowds welcoming the PM as he proceeded from the airport to the BJP state headquarters.
New Terminal: A Gateway to Modern Bihar
Modi inaugurated the state-of-the-art terminal at Patna Airport, built at a cost of ₹1,200 crore. Designed with Bihar’s cultural heritage in mind—featuring Mithila art and Madhubani paintings on its walls—the two-story terminal spans 65,000 square meters and can handle 1,500 passengers at a time, with a future capacity of 80 lakh passengers annually. The PM also laid the foundation stone for a new civil enclave at Bihta Airport, 30 km from Patna, costing ₹1,410 crore, aimed at boosting connectivity in the region.
Roadshow Highlights: A Festive Atmosphere
The 6-km roadshow from Aranya Bhawan near Patna Airport to the BJP office on Birchand Patel Marg was a spectacle, with 32 welcome arches and stages themed around ‘Operation Sindoor’ and BrahMos missiles. Thousands lined the streets, waving national flags and chanting ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai,’ while Modi greeted them from a closed vehicle—a contrast to his open-jeep appearance during the 2024 Lok Sabha election roadshow. Strict security measures, including SPG-led barricading, ensured a smooth event, though traffic restrictions from 4 PM to 8 PM caused diversions across key routes.
Strategic Meeting for Bihar Elections
After the roadshow, Modi chaired a crucial meeting at the BJP state office to strategize for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, expected later in 2025. Attended by senior leaders like Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Deputy CM Samrat Chaudhary, and state BJP chief Dilip Jaiswal, the discussion focused on leveraging Modi’s popularity and the Centre’s development projects to bolster the NDA’s campaign. The PM’s visit, his third to Bihar in five months, is seen as a morale booster for party workers.
Development Push Amid Political Tensions
Modi’s visit coincides with the launch of projects worth ₹50,000 crore, including the ₹29,947 crore Nabinagar thermal plant and key highway and railway upgrades. On May 30, he will address a rally in Bikramganj, Rohtas, before returning to Patna and departing for Delhi. However, the timing of his remarks on ‘Operation Sindoor’ drew criticism from opposition leaders like West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, who questioned the political intent behind such statements during a terror-sensitive period.
Public Sentiment and Security Concerns
Posts on X reflect a polarized response: while supporters celebrated the roadshow’s success, with @bstvlive noting the massive turnout, critics like @PratikVoiceObc accused the BJP of excessive spending on optics amid Bihar’s looming political shift. Security concerns also surfaced after a recent firing incident near the CM’s residence, as highlighted by @AjitSinghRathi, raising questions about safety ahead of the high-profile event.
