Patna: The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has sharply opposed a government notice asking former Chief Minister Rabri Devi to vacate her official residence at 10 Circular Road, saying it will not leave the premises “under any circumstances”.
The notice—issued by the Bihar Building Construction Department on Tuesday—directs the family to shift as the bungalow has reportedly been allotted for accommodation linked to the Bihar Legislative Council.
RJD leaders described the move as “humiliating” and “vindictive”, questioning why such a decision was taken after 20 years.
RJD leaders rally behind the Lalu family
Senior RJD leaders and workers arrived at Rabri Devi’s residence, calling the timing of the notice suspicious. Mangani Lal Mandal, the party’s state president, said the government’s order was “a conspiracy to insult the Lalu family”.
The family, too, has pushed back strongly.
On social media, Tej Pratap Yadav wrote that a government led by the “younger brother” was now forcing the “elder brother” to leave the bungalow, signalling a complete breakdown in ties between Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav.
Lalu’s daughter Rohini Acharya said the government was targeting the family’s “political stature”, adding that “those in power should at least respect Laluji’s legacy”.
Political barbs intensify
BJP leader Neeraj Kumar reacted sharply, suggesting sarcastically that Rabri Devi should “ensure that taps and fixtures are not taken away” while vacating the house at 10 Circular Road — a remark that triggered further outrage from RJD supporters.
The Lalu family, however, insists it will not vacate the residence, framing the notice as an attack on their political identity rather than an administrative step.
A long history with 10 Circular Road
The residence has been central to the RJD’s political story for decades.
After Lalu Prasad Yadav surrendered in the fodder scam in 1997, Rabri Devi—appointed Chief Minister that year—continued to live in official accommodation until 2005, when Nitish Kumar first took office. Even then, she received a strict notice to vacate the Chief Minister’s residence at 1 Anne Marg.
The family shifted only after renovations were completed at the newly allotted 10 Circular Road bungalow. RJD leaders recall that the language of the 2005 notice—warning of “forced eviction”—had deeply angered Lalu Yadav.
A renewed flashpoint in Bihar politics
The latest notice revives an old administrative dispute but also highlights a fresh political divide between Nitish Kumar and the RJD. The party says it will fight the order, while the government maintains that the allotment is part of routine administrative procedure.
