Launch comes ahead of Bihar’s crucial Assembly elections.
The Indian Express has officially launched its Patna edition today, making it the 11th publishing centre for the newspaper across the country. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar attended the launch event, held months ahead of Bihar’s upcoming Assembly elections.
Known for its investigative and explanatory journalism, The Indian Express brings its commitment to accuracy and integrity to Bihar-expanding its reach in a state known for political awareness and social engagement.
The launch also holds historical significance. This month marks 50 years since the imposition of Emergency in 1975, a period during which The Indian Express, under Ramnath Goenka, courageously stood against press censorship, famously publishing a blank editorial in protest.
Goenka had close ties with Jayaprakash Narayan, who led the anti-Emergency movement from Patna and Delhi. Nitish Kumar, then a youth leader, played a key role in that movement-adding symbolic weight to his presence at the launch.
Calling it “a homecoming,” Viveck Goenka, Chairman and MD of The Indian Express Group, noted the founder’s roots in Darbhanga and Bihar’s central role in national discourse.
The paper now publishes from Ahmedabad, Chandigarh, Delhi, Jaipur, Kolkata, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Vadodara, and Patna.
With ongoing developments in governance and policy-such as 50% reservation for women in panchayats and 35% in government jobs-Bihar remains a key state to watch, making the launch timely and impactful.
