Patna: Former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi has once again been served a notice directing her to vacate the government bungalow at 10 Circular Road in Patna, where she and her family have been residing for nearly two decades.
The latest notice comes after the Bihar government allotted the residence to Nand Kishore Ram, the state’s minister for dairy, fisheries and animal husbandry.
According to officials, the Building Construction Department has instructed Rabri Devi to vacate the premises at the earliest and move to an alternative government residence already allotted to her at 39 Harding Road.
Department Issues Fresh Notice
The notice was issued by the joint secretary of the Building Construction Department, who also serves as the estate officer. A letter was sent to Rabri Devi’s private secretary requesting that the former chief minister, who is currently the leader of the opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council, be informed of the directive.
The department stated that the bungalow at 39 Harding Road had already been allotted to Rabri Devi, while the residence at 10 Circular Road has now been allocated to Nand Kishore Ram.
Officials said the department therefore expects the premises to be vacated so that the new allotment can be implemented.
Residence at Centre of Long-Running Political Dispute
The bungalow at 10 Circular Road has long been associated with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad, Rabri Devi and other members of the Yadav family.
The family has continued to reside there despite the previous government allotting them an alternative residence at Harding Road.
The issue has periodically triggered political controversy in Bihar. In the past, RJD leaders accused the then Nitish Kumar government of attempting to target the family by seeking to change the bungalow allotment.
At one stage, senior RJD leaders publicly stated that the residence would not be vacated.
Previous Notices Ignored
The Building Construction Department had previously issued notices asking Rabri Devi to vacate the bungalow.
According to officials, another notice was served around 25 days ago requesting that the residence be vacated at the earliest. However, no shift took place.
With the Samrat Chaudhary-led NDA government now formally allotting the property to a serving minister, fresh pressure has mounted on the former chief minister to hand over possession of the bungalow.
