Bilaspur mayor corrects oath slip, performs Gangajal Purification

Bilaspur | Correspondent: Bilaspur's newly elected Mayor, Pooja Vidhani, took her oath of office with due rites, pledging true faith and loyalty to the Constitution of India. 

However, a moment of confusion arose when she mistakenly said "communalism" instead of "sovereignty" while reciting the oath.

The error caught the attention of those present on the stage, and a voice promptly corrected that the correct word was "sovereignty." 

However, Vidhani continued and completed her oath without pausing. She was then asked to take the oath again, this time ensuring the correct wording.

Errors in the oath-taking process are considered serious as they are part of the constitutional procedure. 

However, Vidhani successfully completed the oath on her second attempt, reading "sovereignty" correctly.

Gangajal Purification at Bilaspur Municipal Corporation

The practice of purifying municipal offices with Gangajal has been gaining traction in Chhattisgarh. 

Before her oath, Raipur’s Mayor had also stated her intention to purify Raipur Municipal Corporation with Gangajal.

A similar event took place in Bilaspur, where, after the oath-taking ceremony of the Mayor and councilors, the Bilaspur Municipal Corporation office was purified with Gangajal. 

Mayor Pooja Vidhani led the ritual, performing a puja and sprinkling Gangajal before officially taking her seat as Mayor.

Speaking on the occasion, she remarked that the purification was intended to cleanse the office of corruption.

Political Reactions: Congress Calls It a "Drama"

Pooja Vidhani's slip of tongue became a topic of discussion, with many ridiculing the mistake despite her long-standing political career. 

Meanwhile, Congress criticized the Gangajal ritual, accusing the BJP of engaging in theatrics. 

The party claimed that instead of purifying the office, BJP leaders needed "mental purification."

Earlier, controversy had also emerged regarding Vidhani’s caste certificate during her nomination for the mayoral post.

Pooja Vidhani has been actively associated with the BJP since 1996. She was elected as a councilor for the first time in 1998 and has served twice as the state general secretary of the BJP Mahila Morcha. 

Additionally, she has held the position of state president of the BJP Mahila Morcha.