Muzaffarpur/Patna: The Bihar government has renewed its demand that former chief minister Rabri Devi vacate the government residence at 10 Circular Road, Patna, triggering a fresh round of political exchanges between the ruling NDA and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).
Speaking in Muzaffarpur, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said the bungalow would have to be vacated in accordance with government rules.
“Government accommodation cannot be retained indefinitely. The bungalow will have to be vacated,” he said.
Samrat Choudhary criticises opposition
Earlier, while addressing a public event in Sheikhpura, Choudhary said government residences were public property and not the entitlement of any individual or family.
He stated that elected representatives and public servants are expected to follow the rules governing official accommodation and added that he himself had lived in different government residences during his political career.
The chief minister also said that official residences should be viewed as accommodation for public office holders rather than personal property.
Rabri Devi refuses to leave residence
The latest controversy follows a fresh notice issued by the Bihar government asking Rabri Devi to vacate the bungalow.
Responding to the notice after returning to Patna from Delhi, the former chief minister said she would not leave the residence voluntarily.
Rabri Devi said the government was free to take action if it wished to enforce the order but maintained that she would not vacate the premises on her own.
Nitish Kumar reviews the issue
Amid the ongoing dispute, former chief Minister Nitish Kumar reportedly sought details of the matter from Building Construction Minister Lesi Singh.
According to sources, the former chief minister was briefed on developments relating to the bungalow dispute. The issue was also discussed with senior leaders of the ruling alliance.
After meeting Nitish Kumar, Lesi Singh told reporters that she had shared the relevant information with the former chief minister but declined to elaborate on internal discussions.
Questions raised over housing allotments
During an interaction with the media, Lesi Singh was asked about government accommodation allotted to other political figures, including former minister Tej Pratap Yadav.
The minister said housing allocations are governed by established rules and procedures, without commenting on specific cases.
NDA leaders defend government action
SC/ST Welfare Minister Lakhinder Paswan supported the government’s position, saying official accommodation should be vacated when required under the rules.
He said individuals who wish to retain government residences despite alternative allotments should be prepared to face legal and administrative action.
What is the dispute about?
The controversy centres on the government residence at 10 Circular Road, where RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav, Rabri Devi and Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav currently reside.
According to the Building Construction Department, Rabri Devi was allotted an alternative government residence at 39 Hardinge Road under an order issued on November 25 last.
Officials say repeated requests were made for the family to shift to the newly allotted accommodation, but the move has not taken place.
The government has now issued a fresh notice, giving the occupants 15 days to vacate the Circular Road residence.
Political reactions continue
The issue has generated strong political reactions from both sides.
RJD leaders have accused the government of targeting the family of Lalu Prasad Yadav, while NDA leaders have argued that the matter concerns compliance with housing regulations rather than politics.
With the deadline set by the government approaching, the dispute is likely to remain a subject of political debate in Bihar in the coming days.
