In an extraordinary turn of events, Sujit Kumar (IRS-IT:2001) has achieved a rare career transformation—from senior bureaucrat to Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) in Bihar—in just 51 days, a development that has gripped both the bureaucratic fraternity and the political class. His swift rise is widely viewed as a sign of strong backing from the highest levels of political leadership in Delhi, without which such rapid movement of empanelment approvals, VRS processing, and political coordination would have been nearly impossible. Kumar, who served as Principal Commissioner (OSD), Appeal Unit-II, Delhi until September 25, 2025, is now the BJP MLA from the Gaura Bauram assembly seat in Darbhanga district, having defeated the RJD candidate.
The speed and sequence of developments have sparked intense curiosity about him in the corridors of power. On September 23, Legendofficers.com had exclusively reported a landmark empanelment in which 20 IRS-IT officers of the 2001 batch were promoted to Level 15 of the Pay Matrix (₹1,82,200–₹2,24,100)—a grade that even many 2001-batch IAS officers are yet to attain. This unprecedented and exceptionally fast empanelment was pushed through because Sujit Kumar was preparing to seek voluntary retirement to enter electoral politics. To ensure his case moved without delay, intervention at the highest political levels was required to clear the promotion file across multiple offices. As a result, CBDT issued the empanelment list on September 13, which included 45 IRS-IT officers—20 of them from the 2001 batch, including Sujit Kumar—and by September 23 they were issued postings corresponding to their upgraded grade.
The real sprint began soon after. On September 25, 2025, Sujit Kumar applied for voluntary retirement (VRS), and in an extraordinary departure from the standard three-month notice rule, the President of India approved his request within just 15 days, on October 10. He joined the BJP on October 13, and within 24 hours—on October 14—he was declared the party’s candidate from the Gaura Bauram assembly seat. He filed his nomination the very next day, voting took place on November 6 in the first phase of the Bihar Assembly elections, and on November 14, he was declared the winner.
With this, Sujit Kumar’s journey from bureaucrat to MLA is complete—unfolding so quickly that it has set off whispers in both Delhi and Bihar about the kind of support he enjoys and how smoothly everything worked out for him. And going by the talk in political circles, he may now even be in line for a ministerial post in the new Bihar government.
Also Read: IRS officer Sujit Kumar takes VRS; clears path for political plunge ahead of Bihar polls
Also Read: 2001 batch IRS officers get promoted to Level 15 Pay Matrix ahead of IAS batch
Also Read: 45 IRS-IT officers promoted as Principal Commissioners of Income Tax
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