Former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi on Saturday challenged CM Samrat Chaudhary to “forcibly” evict her from the government bungalow she has been occupying for over a decade. The RJD leader—who served an eight-year tenure as Chief Minister from 1997 to 2005—flared up when journalists questioned her regarding an order issued by the Building Construction Department. Under this order, the bungalow located at 10, Circular Road in Patna was allotted to Nand Kishore Ram, the Minister for Dairy and Fisheries.
“Yes, I can see that Samrat Chaudhary, who has just become Chief Minister, is quite excited. Let him try to evict me by force. I am not going to vacate this place,” asserted the irate wife of RJD President Lalu Prasad. Rabri Devi was asked about this development at the airport here. She had just returned from a short vacation in Delhi, where she celebrated her grandson’s birthday and from where her husband had reportedly departed for Singapore to undergo medical treatment.
The former Chief Minister—who likes to remind Chaudhary that he began his career as a minister in her cabinet—spoke to media personnel from inside her car and angrily pushed away their microphones. The bungalow at 10, Circular Road was allotted to this family by the previous Nitish Kumar government. This bungalow is situated in close proximity to the Raj Bhavan and the Chief Minister’s official residence.
Apart from serving as the residence of the RJD’s prominent ‘First Family,’ the bungalow has also been utilized as the opposition party’s office for several years. A few months ago—prior to Chaudhary assuming office as the state’s first BJP Chief Minister—the Building Construction Department had issued an order stating that, henceforth, this bungalow would be allotted exclusively to the Deputy Chief Minister. Consequently, Rabri Devi—in her capacity as the Leader of the Opposition in the State Legislative Council—was asked to shift to a different residence located on Harding Road. However, she continued to reside at 10, Circular Road, sharing the bungalow with her husband, whose position as Chief Minister she had succeeded. Furthermore, it has come to light that her younger son, Tejashwi Yadav—who has been allotted the bungalow at 1, Polo Road in his capacity as the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Assembly—also spends the majority of his time at the bungalow allotted to his parents.
Meanwhile, senior JD(U) leader and Building Construction Minister Leshi Singh stated, “It has been quite some time since 39, Harding Road was allotted to Rabri Devi, and she cannot claim that she is being deprived of the amenities due to her. We have already allotted 10, Circular Road to a minister, and Rabri Devi cannot expect any leniency whatsoever.”