•The Bihar government issued a notice to former Chief Minister Rabri Devi to vacate her government bungalow at 10 Circular Road in Patna, which she rejected.
•The Circular Road bungalow has been a political hub for the Lalu-Rabri family and the RJD for the past two decades.
•The government allocated the bungalow to Nand Kishore Ram under official rules, while the RJD termed it *“revenge politics.”*
•Nand Kishore Ram defended the allocation, stating it reflected the government’s sensitivity toward the Dalit community.
•Rabri Devi refused to vacate the bungalow even after a government team, accompanied by police, failed to enforce compliance.
•Minister Lacy Singh insisted that Rabri Devi must vacate the bungalow as per regulations.
•Tej Pratap Yadav demanded that Nitish Kumar’s government bungalow be vacated first, accusing the government of targeting his family.
Political controversy over government accommodations in Bihar has once again escalated. This time, the dispute revolves around a government bungalow located at 10 Circular Road in Patna, allocated to former Chief Minister Rabri Devi. The Bihar government served her a notice to vacate the property, but Rabri Devi has outright refused to comply. The standoff has not only stirred the political corridors but also sparked a sharp exchange between the RJD and the state government.
The bungalow, allocated to Rabri Devi for the past two decades, has served as a key power center for the Lalu-Rabri family and the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). It is widely believed to be politically inauspicious, as every minister who has resided there has failed to secure a second term. Past occupants include RJD’s Bhupendra Prasad Verma, Shameem Ahmed, Congress’s Madan Mohan Jha, BJP’s Chandramohan Rai, Vinod Narayan Jha, and Ramsurat Rai—none of whom were reappointed as ministers, reinforcing the perception that political careers often stall after living there.
The government, however, has decided to reallocate the bungalow to newly inducted Cabinet Minister Nand Kishore Ram, citing adherence to official rules. The RJD, on the other hand, dismisses this as an act of political vendetta. Nand Kishore Ram, who has taken up the issue from the perspective of the Dalit community, defended the allocation by stating, *“I am a Dalit, and that is why the bungalow is not being vacated.”* His remarks have further complicated the matter.
Rabri Devi has categorically refused to vacate the bungalow, asserting that she will not surrender the property under any circumstances. Even when a government team accompanied by DSP-level police personnel from the Patna Secretariat arrived at her residence, her unyielding stance forced them to leave empty-handed. The impasse highlights the administrative challenges in resolving the dispute.
Bihar Minister Lacy Singh has reiterated that Rabri Devi must vacate the bungalow in accordance with the rules. *“The government will follow due process, and Rabri Devi will have to comply,”* she stated. Meanwhile, the RJD has accused the government of using rules as a pretext to target the Lalu-Rabri family. Party spokespersons condemned the move as *“revenge politics.”*
Rabri Devi’s eldest son, Tej Pratap Yadav, has also weighed in, demanding that Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s government bungalow be vacated first. *“First make Nitish Kumar vacate his bungalow,”* he demanded, accusing the government of selectively targeting his family.
Amid the controversy, questions have also emerged about why Nand Kishore Ram, who was initially allocated a bungalow on Hardinge Road after becoming a minister, required a new government accommodation within days. The inconsistency suggests possible internal disagreements or ambiguities within the government’s decision-making process.
