Why controversy trailed Prashant Kishor's visit to Bihar chief secy Pratyaya Amrit

Chief minister Samrat Choudhary showed Kishor political grace; his bureaucracy showed official courtesy. Neither requires any conspiracy theoryWho doesn’t like a bit of political controversy, even if a manufactured one? A recent such attempt revolves around Jan Suraaj founder and Bankipur MLA Prashant Kishor's meeting with Bihar chief secretary Pratyaya Amrit on August 27. A photograph of Kishor with senior officials has been used to suggest that the bureaucracy is bending over backwards to cater to the state’s newest political force.“Forget Prashant Kishor. Had any MLA visited the DGP or chief secretary, they would have been received courteously, their concerns would have been heard, and assurances given on legitimate demands. That is precisely what the written protocol states—and that is exactly what happened in Kishor’s case. Those trying to manufacture a controversy out of this clearly have a vested interest,” said an IAS officer, who did not wish to be named.There is perhaps a more interesting and nuanced explanation for why such a narrative is being pushed. The idea is to suggest that Bihar's top bureaucracy is trying hard to please Kishor, who has been the sharpest critic of chief minister Samrat Choudhary. The goal appears simple—create some differences, or at least the impression of differences, between Choudhary and the top bureaucrats he trusts.The facts, however, run contrary to these interpretations and attempts at narrative-building. The reality is that Choudhary's top bureaucrats, including the chief secretary and DGP, have been doing exactly what the political leadership expected them to do. Consider Choudhary himself. On August 3, after Kishor won the Bankipur assembly bypoll and went on to demand that the BJP leadership replace Choudhary as chief minister, the latter chose a gracious response. Choudhary congratulated Kishor on the victory and said he respected the people's verdict. It was an unusually generous gesture towards an opponent who had wasted little time in questioning the chief minister’s leadership.The bureaucracy appears to have taken a similar approach—following the prescribed protocol. In fact, on August 21, the general administration department issued instructions on the protocol to be observed when dealing with elected representatives. The circular, issued after the July 17 meeting chaired by the speaker of the Bihar legislative assembly, specifically states that when an elected representative visits an officer, appropriate protocol and courteous conduct commensurate with their position and dignity be observed. It also directs subordinate offices to ensure strict compliance.Six days later, Kishor met the chief secretary. He raised a range of civic and public welfare issues, including the monthly 5 kg free foodgrain entitlement, traffic regulation, vending zones, drainage, roads, street-lighting and encroachment. Kishor later described the meeting as a follow-up to his earlier discussion with the DGP on traffic and vendors, with the chief secretary assuring him that the administration would do the needful.Any other MLA raising these issues would have received exactly the same assurance. However, what was peddled was a photograph of Kishor standing with top bureaucrats, including the chief secretary and DGP.The chief secretary's office, however, promptly offered a clear explanation. Kishor had sought an appointment with the chief secretary on August 20 and was given one for 5 pm on August 27. When he arrived, another meeting was underway in the chief secretary's chamber, with several senior officials present. Kishor subsequently met the chief secretary in the visitors' room, where some of those top officials, including the DGP, were already present. The government also pointed out that meetings with elected representatives are routinely held in the visitors' room.Incidentally, a photograph was subsequently taken of Kishor with the officers, which is purportedly being used to build a narrative—only, there is no evidence that any section of the bureaucracy is doing anything extraordinary to please Kishor.There is perhaps a simpler way of looking at it. Choudhary showed Kishor political grace; his bureaucracy showed him official courtesy. Neither requires a conspiracy theory. And that raises a pertinent question: if everyone was following the protocol, who exactly is peddling the controversy and why?Indeed, in politics, everyone likes a little controversy. And when facts refuse to provide one, there is always the temptation to manufacture. Curiously, a small section of the bureaucracy is thought to be keen on driving a wedge between Choudhary and his officials. The suggestion is that the bureaucracy is kowtowing to Kishor and operating independently of the chief minister. The facts, however, leave little room for those building such a contrived narrative.Subscribe to India Today Magazine- EndsPublished By: Shyam BalasubramanianPublished On: Aug 31, 2026 19:54 IST