Patna, Nov. 26: Art, culture and youth minister Vinay Bihari seems an unhappy man even at the helm of his department.

Just a month back, he desperately wanted department secretary Chanchal Kumar be removed as according to him, the 1992-batch IAS officer was apparently overburdened with work and was not giving much importance to his department.

Now, that the government has replaced Chanchal with 1996-batch IAS officer Anand Kishore, Bihari’s cribbing has started again. He now wishes to get Chanchal back.

Bihari alleged on Wednesday that his new secretary was defying his direct orders and had not even met him once since he took charge.

Anand, health secretary and State Health Society executive director, was given the additional charge of the art, culture and youth affairs department on November 7.

Chanchal is at present the building construction department secretary and also holds the charge of Bihar Foundation CEO.

“I wanted an official who was free of any other additional charges so that he or she could fully concentrate on my department,” Bihari said.

“Some singers approached me, saying they had not got a chance to perform in any government events. I, in a bid to help them, directed the secretary to ensure that they get a chance to perform in some events in Darbhanga and Begusarai. Later, I came to know that they never performed and my department officials told me that the secretary was too busy. This is a defiance of my direct order,” added Bihari, also an artist.

Attempts to contact Anand proved futile.