'Nagraj' Ashok Kumar Choudhary plays with snakes in viral photo, draws ire from Bihar parties

In a country where larger-than-life personalities rule the roost, Bihar's Education and IT Minister Ashok Kumar Choudhary seems to fit the bill. Photos of Choudhary playing with snakes have gone viral, drawing ire from political parties across the board.

Also making the rounds is a photo of state Congress Vice-President Subodh Kumar who appears to be seeking blessings from the reptile.

The Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandan) have pulled up Choudhary - who is the Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee chief - for the photos, claiming they propagate superstitious belief.

JD(U) spokesperson KC Tyagi slammed the incident. He told the Indian Express, "There can be no place for superstition in a scientific society".

RJD spokesperson Manoj Jha reportedly said, "People in public life should set examples of scientific temperament and shun archaic practices."

Choudhary clarified and said he was against superstition. He claimed that the photos were taken a while ago when he had met snake charmers who had been called in to entertain children. However, the state Congress VP alleged that the photos were from a "Makar Sankranti puja".