Patna: Bihar’s newly appointed Panchayati Raj Minister, Deepak Prakash, has come under scrutiny following revelations about his role in the recent assembly elections. Before assuming ministerial office, Prakash served as the counting agent for independent candidate Ramayan Paswan in the Sasaram constituency.
Prakash spent the entire day at the counting table monitoring Paswan’s votes, which ultimately numbered only 327, leading to the forfeiture of his security deposit. The unusual arrangement has drawn attention because Prakash’s mother, Snehlata Kushwaha, also contested the Sasaram seat as a candidate for the NDA.
Political observers are speculating that while Prakash officially represented the independent candidate, he may have been monitoring the counting process on behalf of his mother, raising questions about nepotism within the family. His father, RLM supremo Upendra Kushwaha, has faced criticism for appointing his son as a minister despite him neither contesting elections nor having prior political experience.
The debate around Prakash’s unconventional approach has extended to social media, where users have highlighted his casual attire—jeans, shirt, and slippers—at the swearing-in ceremony. His counting agent identity card, issued by the Election Commission, is also circulating widely online, adding to the discussion.
