Just one day after the NDA celebrated its electoral victory, an unforeseen moment during the oath-taking ceremony of the Bihar Assembly drew significant public attention and sparked widespread discussion.
On December 1, during the first sitting of the newly constituted 18th Bihar Assembly, Janata Dal (United) MLA Vibha Devi from Nawada appeared to struggle while taking her oath of office. A video of the incident quickly circulated on social media, transforming what is typically a formal and dignified democratic process into a moment of intense public scrutiny.
The footage shows Vibha Devi standing before fellow legislators, visibly nervous and unsettled. Her voice trembled as she attempted to read the oath, and she appeared unsure of the words she was required to recite. At one point, she leaned toward another MLA, Manorama Devi, seeking help. With her colleague’s assistance, Vibha Devi eventually managed to complete the oath.
Vibha Devi is not a newcomer to politics. She is a two-time MLA who recently secured a decisive victory by defeating RJD candidate Kaushal Yadav by a margin of more than 27,000 votes. She also comes from a politically influential background. Her husband, Raj Ballabh Yadav, a former MLA himself, continues to be a well-known and powerful figure in the region.
Given her political experience and background, the incident surprised many observers. Her election affidavit describes her as “literate,” yet her apparent difficulty in reading the oath on the Assembly floor raised questions among the public and political commentators alike.
The viral video triggered a broader debate on social media, with users discussing the educational qualifications, competence, and preparedness of elected representatives. Several people pointed out that Vibha Devi had previously represented the same constituency in 2020, leading them to question how an experienced legislator could struggle with such a basic and essential parliamentary procedure.
