Patna: Former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi on Saturday dared CM Samrat Choudhary to evict her “by force” from the government bungalow that she has been occupying for over a decade.
The RJD leader, who had an eight-year tenure as the CM from 1997 to 2005, blew a fuse when a couple of journalists asked her about an order of the building construction department that allotted the 10, Circular Road bungalow in Patna to Dairy and Fisheries minister Nand Kishor Ram.
“Yes, I can see that Samrat Choudhary, who has become the chief minister only recently, is quite excited. Let him get me evicted by force. I am not going to vacate the premises”, said the indignant wife of RJD president Lalu Prasad.
Speaking to reporters at the Patna airport after returning from a brief trip to Delhi, where she celebrated her grandson’s birthday, Rabri Devi was asked about the bungalow allotment controversy. Her husband, Lalu Prasad Yadav, is reportedly in Singapore for medical treatment.
The family was allotted the 10, Circular Road bungalow by a previous government led by Nitish Kumar, and the residence has long served as both the family’s home and the political hub of the RJD.
Although the state government later reserved the bungalow for deputy chief ministers and directed Rabri Devi to shift to another residence on Hardinge Road as the leader of the opposition in the state legislature council, she has continued to occupy the property.
In addition, their younger son, Tejashwi Yadav, who has been allotted the 1, Polo Road bungalow in his capacity as leader of the opposition in the assembly, is also known to spend most of his time at the bungalow allotted to his parents.
Meanwhile, senior JD(U) leader and building construction minister Leshi Singh said, “It has been some time since Rabri Devi was allotted 39, Hardinge Road, and she cannot say that she is being denied her perks. We have allotted 10, Circular Road to a minister, and Rabri Devi can expect no leniency.”
