The Patna district administration on Saturday gave former Chief Minister Rabri Devi 15 days to vacate her official residence at 10, Circular Road, after she publicly challenged the government to evict her by force. This move sets the stage for a political showdown over the bungalow that has been her family's home for more than two decades.
Soon after Rabri returned from Delhi, a team of magistrates and police officers deputed by the district administration visited her residence and requested her to move to the newly allotted bungalow at 39, Hardinge Road. An official statement issued by the district administration said, "Further legal action will be taken after 15 days." It added that the building construction department had already made three requests asking her to vacate the premises.
The move came after Rabri publicly refused to leave the bungalow. "Ham khali nahin karenge (won't vacate the bungalow)," an angry-looking Rabri told reporters at Patna airport after returning from Delhi, where she had gone with family members to celebrate her grandson's birthday. "I can see Samrat Choudhary is quite excited upon becoming the chief minister. Let his government evict me by force. I am not going to vacate the house," she said.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) quickly rallied behind Rabri and warned of strong protests if any attempt was made to evict her forcibly. State RJD president Mangani Lal Mandal told reporters after meeting Rabri, "She never requested the government to allot the bungalow. Nitish Kumar himself allotted this house to her, but now the NDA government is trying to insult her despite she served as the CM and remained the leader of opposition in the Bihar legislative council." Mandal added, "There is no reason to vacate this bungalow right now." He also questioned the allotment of bungalows to Janata Dal (United) Rajya Sabha members in Patna, in an apparent reference to Nitish Kumar and Sanjay Kumar Jha. "Those who are not qualified to get bungalows in Patna too are in their possession. Why doesn't the government vacate their bungalows?" Mandal asked.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary, however, defended the administration's move. "Whatever is being done is under the law... Everyone should abide by the law," Vijay said. Building construction department minister Leshi Singh said, "This is a government bungalow, not personal." She added that the bungalow had been allotted according to rules.
Bharatiya Janata Party Rajya Sabha member Bhim Singh, who once served as Rabri's personal assistant, said she must comply with the law. "Just one cop, not the force of entire Bihar, is enough to vacate her bungalow," he said. RJD spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan questioned the government's stand. "Why is the government adamant on making our leader vacate a house that she has been occupying for 20 years? Let this government not talk about rules. These are bent whenever it suits the ruling dispensation," Gagan said.
