Patna erupted in political drama on Wednesday as Bihar Legislative Council witnessed a fierce showdown between RJD MLC Sunil Kumar and Minister Ashok Chaudhary. The confrontation escalated when Kumar questioned the authenticity of Chaudhary’s educational credentials, prompting the minister to issue a bold challenge: prove the allegations or resign.
The trigger was a heated debate over paddy procurement delays. Opposition members accused Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) of shirking responsibility by citing moisture issues, leaving farmers in the lurch as the procurement window nears its end. Targets remain far from achievement, fueling frustration among legislators.
Responding to the queries, Minister Chaudhary turned the tables, taking digs at RJD’s past governance record. This irked MLC Sunil Kumar, who retorted by claiming insider knowledge on how Chaudhary allegedly obtained a fake degree. ‘If he wants, he can reveal the full truth,’ Kumar declared.
Chaudhary, visibly enraged, fired back: ‘Prove my degree is fake, or step down from the Council yourself.’ The personal barbs led to chaos, with opposition members protesting vehemently. Chairman intervened swiftly, advising restraint and ordering the removal of unparliamentary remarks from the records.
This isn’t the first such episode. Just days earlier on February 10, a similar spat between the two had spiraled into unbecoming language, resulting in the suspension of opposition members for a day. Outside the house, Kumar had labeled Chaudhary’s behavior as worse than a street thug’s. As paddy procurement deadlines loom, this rivalry threatens to overshadow critical agricultural concerns in Bihar.