NEW DELHI, May 26: The Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has caused yet another public outcry by his sudden move placing a flower pot on the head of a senior bureaucrat in an open gathering.
The audience was stunned at an appointment letter distribution ceremony in Patna on Monday when Mr Nitish Kumar placed the welcome plant on the head of Additional Chief Secretary (ACS) S Siddhartha. Kumar’s behaviour at the Lalit Narayan Mishra Institute left officials and attendees both surprised and amused initially and later triggered laughter across the venue.
As part of the traditional welcome, Education Department ACS S Siddharth presented a sapling to the Chief Minister on his arrival at the stage. In his characteristic unconventional style, Nitish Kumar accepted the plant and quickly but gently placed it on the officer’s head.
The moment caught everyone off guard, including ACS Siddhartha, who appeared visibly surprised. The audience, initially taken aback, soon burst into laughter as the Chief Minister carried on with the ceremony undisturbed. The unexpected moment quickly became the highlight of the event, sparking widespread discussion in both media and political circles.
The opposition quickly reacted to the incident, with RJD spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwary describing the incident as shocking and shameful. “His activities are bringing shame to the state. This shows that his mind is not under his control. He is being controlled by a group of bureaucrats. He is the weakest CM Bihar has ever had,” he claimed.
Nitish Kumar’s spontaneous and unconventional gestures have frequently drawn public attention, with his offbeat behaviour over the years earning him a reputation for moments that often go viral.
In March, Kumar abruptly left the stage ahead of the national anthem during the inauguration of the Sepak Takraw World Cup in Patna. In November last year, he made an attempt to touch Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s feet at a public event in Darbhanga. Both the incidents had caused major public controversy and questions about his mental health.
(Manas Dasgupta)
