Why Bihar BJP is training guns on ally Nitish’s trusted man, controversial IAS officer KK Pathak

Why Bihar BJP is training guns on ally Nitish’s trusted man, controversial IAS officer KK Pathak

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) this week launched its first attack on its new Bihar ally, Nitish Kumar, targeting one of his trusted IAS officers, K.K. Pathak, in the legislative council for alleged autocratic behaviour and use of abusive language.

Last month, Janata Dal (United) leader and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish had dumped the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and other allies in the Mahagathbandhan coalition to form a new government with the BJP.

Pathak, who holds the post of additional chief secretary in the Bihar education department, among other charges, is known for several controversies. He has become a flashpoint now between the two allies, as well as the opposition RJD, over a video that went viral this past week in which he purportedly uses foul language against teachers and state service officers.

It was on Wednesday that BJP MLC Shahnawaz Hussain first raised the issue of Pathak’s behaviour in the legislative council and demanded action against him. He was joined in his attack by other party MLCs and members of the RJD. The same day, Pathak became a subject of conversation in the assembly as well, with Nitish defending him by saying that “he is an honest officer and there is no question of removing him from his post”.

Speaking to ThePrint, BJP MLC Sarvesh Singh said: “One officer can’t demoralise other officers. He can’t be a superior authority.”

Behind the BJP’s tirade against Pathak is, however, a deeper issue. After stitching an alliance with Nitish, the party, which is in power at the Centre and a number of states, wants to set the narrative of good governance and an able administration, especially since the Lok Sabha elections are due.

A senior BJP leader told ThePrint that the “party can’t dilute its hallmark of administration” and “will keep the pressure on the administration and Nitish”.

“The BJP is known for being tough on law and order, and for its good governance. Under the RJD-JD(U) alliance government, cases of crime were rising and somehow Nitishji’s control over the administration was slipping. We can’t allow the return of jungle raj in Bihar. The BJP has to ensure that governance is not derailed and keep in mind the future politics of Bihar too.”

On Wednesday, deputy chief ministers and BJP leaders Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Sinha had told the media that mafia raj will be put to an end in Bihar to improve the law and order situation. Choudhary has also reportedly asked the director general of police to take tough action against the mafia although the home department is with Nitish.

In Uttar Pradesh, CM Yogi Adityanath’s policy of bulldozing property of alleged criminals is said to have ensured the BJP’s return to power in the 2022 state poll.

ThePrint reached out to Pathak for his comment but he did not respond to calls. This report will be updated if a response is received.

Man of controversy

Pathak, who is known for educational reforms in schools and streamlining teacher attendance, has long been a challenge for the BJP.

When the party was in opposition in Bihar, Union minister Giriraj Singh had attacked the state education department over its reduction of annual festival holidays in government schools from 23 to 11, terming it “anti-Hindu”. BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Modi, who served as Nitish’s deputy for many years, had then also asked the CM to sack the officer.

Several BJP leaders told ThePrint that “giving too much autonomy to one officer is not good for governance and managing the administration, and will antagonise a large section of teachers who have been protesting against Pathak”.

Earlier this month, Pathak landed in a controversy when another video went viral in which he seemingly uses expletives to pull up a deputy collector at a departmental meeting.

The BJP has since picked up the issue of the Bihar bureaucracy’s “non-cooperative attitude under the Nitish government”, while the RJD has picked up the matter of school timings to attack the government.

The school timing controversy started after Nitish said in the assembly Tuesday that government schools would open at 10 am and close at 4 pm. Soon after his words, however, Pathak told the media that teachers would have to do duty for eight hours, from 9 am to 5 pm, in schools.

The matter led to an uproar in the house on Wednesday and Thursday, with the RJD attacking Pathak for not following the CM’s word. On Thursday, RJD MLA and former education minister Chandrashekar, who was removed during the RJD-JD(U) alliance government after a tussle with Pathak, played in the assembly the video of Pathak purportedly using abusive language for officers and teachers.

‘One officer taking toll’

In the legislative council Wednesday, Shahnawaz said: “One officer in Bihar is taking a toll on the entire state. He is not respecting the people of the state or teachers and officers. This house should take action against the officer.”

BJP MLC Sanjay Mayukh also lent his voice to the charge along with other members.

Mayukh alleged that “Pathak is disrespectful to our teachers who give us education.”

“We have come here after studying in school. A guru is the most respected person in a student’s life but this officer is disrespecting teachers and using abusive language against our gurus. This can’t be tolerated in any manner and action should be taken against this officer,” he added.

Soon after this, council chairman Devesh Chandra Thakur intervened and said that a committee would be formed to look into the matter.

State minister and JD(U) leader Vijay Kumar Chaudhary requested the chairman to not screen in the council the video of Pathak using foul language and instead screen it in the chamber and give directions.

Choudhary also tried to cool down opposition and ruling alliance members’ tempers by saying that “nobody has the right to abuse anybody and the government condemns such attitude of officers”.

While this was happening in the council, Nitish was defending Pathak in the assembly after Chandrashekar and RJD MLA Bhai Virendra questioned the CM about Pathak’s stand on school timings.

An RJD MLA said in the assembly that “officers have become autocratic. They are not listening to the direction of even the chief minister and are taking decisions. The CM has no authority now”.

Nitish then lost his cool and retorted in anger that “you people are demanding action against one of the honest officers”. “He (Pathak) is an honest officer and will not be removed anyhow.”

(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)