In a moment that has stunned many and left social media abuzz, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar triggered a fresh controversy on Monday when he unexpectedly placed a flowerpot on the head of senior IAS officer S Siddharth during a government event in Patna.
The unusual incident occurred at Krishi Bhavan during an official appointment letter distribution ceremony. As is customary in Bihar, S Siddharth, Additional Chief Secretary (Cabinet), approached the CM with a potted plant instead of a bouquet. In an act that no one saw coming, Nitish Kumar lifted the flowerpot and casually placed it on Siddharth’s head. The officer promptly removed it and handed it to another official.
The act, captured on video, spread like wildfire across social media, igniting a range of reactions from humour to horror.
The incident drew sharp criticism from the opposition, particularly the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
Rohini Acharya, daughter of Lalu Prasad Yadav and a senior RJD leader, posted the viral video with a biting caption:
“The brain has gone completely haywire – uncle is now placing flowerpots on officers’ heads.”
The RJD’s official handle posted, “This is the mental condition of Bihar CM Nitish Kumar! When a senior IAS officer welcomes him at an official event, the CM throws all protocol and dignity aside. Such conduct is dragging the state into despair.”
This is not the first time the Chief Minister has raised eyebrows. He has previously been seen laughing during the national anthem and smiling at a tribute ceremony for fallen soldiers, moments that drew nationwide criticism and sparked questions about his state of mind.
While some social media users found the flowerpot moment amusing and ripe for memes, many others voiced concern over the incident’s implication for civil service dignity and constitutional decorum.
Whether viewed as a lapse in judgment, an odd sense of humor, or something more serious, the incident has once again placed Nitish Kumar under the national spotlight, for all the wrong reasons.
