NEW DELHI: In an incident that left officials amused and political circles buzzing, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar stole the spotlight on Monday by placing a potted plant on a senior bureaucrat’s head during a government function in Patna.The moment unfolded at Lalit Narayan Mishra Institute, where Nitish was attending an appointment letter distribution ceremony. As per protocol, education department additional chief secretary S Siddharth presented a sapling to the CM as a token of welcome. But what followed caught everyone off guard.With his trademark calm, Nitish accepted the plant, and gently placed it on the officer’s head, drawing stunned silence followed by bursts of laughter from the audience. Siddharth, visibly taken aback, stood still as the chief minister continued, unbothered.The moment quickly went viral, turning into the defining snapshot of the day and reviving public chatter about Nitish Kumar’s unusual public conduct.This isn’t a first. From unexpected outbursts to unpredictable stage antics, Kumar has made headlines for his eccentric style on multiple occasions, drawing both amusement and criticism.Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav has often questioned the seriousness of Nitish’s leadership, and Monday’s episode is expected to fuel fresh barbs from the RJD camp. “This is not how a CM behaves,” a senior RJD leader remarked off the record.While supporters dismissed the act as a “harmless, symbolic gesture,” critics argue it undermines the gravity of state functions.With social media already ablaze with memes and reactions, one thing is certain: Nitish Kumar knows how to keep people talking, even with a plant.
