Bureaucrats Swap Files for Ballot Papers in Bihar’s Politics: A Growing Post-Retirement Trend
In Indian democracy, governments change with elections, but the administrative machinery — the civil servants and police officers who maintain law and order, deliver public services, and implement policies — usually remains constant.
Yet, in Bihar, a striking shift is unfolding: former top bureaucrats and senior police officers are increasingly stepping into electoral politics after hanging up their uniforms.
The list also includes a former Vice Chancellor, doctors, actors, social activists, and local public officials
While this phenomenon is not entirely new, it is now emerging as a significant trend.
Many of these officers are entering the political arena to extend their influence, driven by ideology, a desire to serve beyond the bureaucracy, or even, in some cases, because they felt constrained or victimised by political interference during service.
Political parties, too, seem eager to leverage their clean image, administrative experience, and public recognition.
This election season, at least seven retired officers — from IPS to IRS ranks — are contesting Bihar’s Assembly polls.
They carry decades of governance experience and deep grassroots knowledge, adding a new dimension to the political contest.
Profiles of Former Civil Servants Contesting Bihar Elections
Rakesh Kumar Mishra — Jan Suraaj, Darbhanga
A 1986-batch IPS officer and IIT-BHU gold medallist, Rakesh Mishra, served in key law-and-order positions in Bihar and Central forces like CRPF, CISF, and ITBP.
After retiring, he became a founding member of Prashant Kishor’s Jan Suraaj. He now takes on BJP’s long-standing MLA Sanjay Saraogi in Darbhanga, with the Mahagathbandhan fielding VIP leader Umesh Sahani.
Anand Mishra — BJP, Buxar
Known in Assam as an “encounter specialist”, the 2011-batch IPS officer served against insurgents and drug syndicates, earning several gallantry medals.
He resigned in 2024, briefly joined Jan Suraaj, and later shifted to the BJP. Mishra is contesting Buxar against Congress’s sitting MLA Sanjay Kumar Tiwari, with Jan Suraaj fielding Tathagat Harsh Vardhan.
Sunil Kumar — JD(U), Bhore (SC)
A 1987-batch IPS officer and former Patna SSP, Sunil Kumar, belongs to a political family and served 33 years before entering politics in 2020.
Now a Cabinet Minister in the Nitish Kumar government, he seeks re-election from Bhore, facing CPI-ML’s Dhananjay and Jan Suraaj’s lone transgender candidate, Priti Kinar.
Jai Prakash Singh — Jan Suraaj, Chapra
A 2000-batch IPS officer from Himachal Pradesh, originally from Saran, Singh has served in sensitive postings and retired as ADGP.
Contesting from Chapra, a BJP bastion, he faces the BJP’s Chhoti Kumari and RJD-backed Bhojpuri actor-turned-politician Khesari Lal Yadav.
Braj Kishore Ravi — Congress, Rosera (SC)
A 1989-batch IPS officer from Tamil Nadu cadre and native of Saharsa, Ravi also served on a UN peacekeeping mission.
Coming from a freedom-fighter family, he joined the Congress post-retirement and is contesting Rosera against BJP MLA Birendra Paswan.
Sujit Kumar Singh — BJP, Gaura Bauram
A 2001-batch IRS officer who rose to Principal Commissioner of Income Tax, Sujit Singh, resigned recently to contest from his home seat, which is currently held by his wife, Swarna Singh.
The RJD has fielded Afzal Ali Khan, whom Swarna defeated in 2020.
Shivdeep Wamanrao Lande — Independent, Jamalpur & Araria
Widely known as a “supercop” in Bihar, the 2006-batch IPS officer earned fame for anti-crime drives.
After retirement, Lande launched his outfit ‘Hindu Sena’ and is contesting from two seats — Jamalpur and Araria. His opponents include Congress incumbents, JD(U) candidates, and Jan Suraaj nominees.
Lande also brings political family ties as the son-in-law of former Maharashtra minister Vijay Shivtare.
With bureaucrats now actively joining political parties or contesting independently, the line between administration and politics in Bihar is becoming increasingly fluid.
Whether this infusion of administrative talent strengthens governance or blurs institutional boundaries remains a question that only time — and voters — will answer.
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