RJD Digs In Heels Over Rabri Devi's Residence
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) has firmly declared that party leader Rabri Devi will not vacate her current residence at 10, Circular Road in Patna, setting the stage for a potential confrontation with the Bihar government. This defiant stance comes just one day after the state administration issued an official letter allotting her a different house.
The Bihar government's Building Construction Department, under the leadership of JD(U) senior leader Vijay Kumar Choudhary, sent a formal communication to Rabri Devi on November 26, 2025, informing her that she had been allotted 39, Hardinge Road as her new residence. The new property is located approximately one kilometer from her current address.
Political Motivation Alleged
RJD state president Mangani Lal Mandal strongly criticized the government's decision, calling it "politically motivated" and claiming it "smacks of spite." In his statement to The Indian Express, Mandal outlined several reasons why Rabri Devi cannot vacate the Circular Road property.
"Rabri Devi won't vacate the house because it has a lift for Lalu Prasad ji, who needs it because of health reasons, and there are security reasons for retaining the house," Mandal explained. He emphasized that the current residence has adequate space to accommodate the combined security requirements of both Rabri Devi and her husband, former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav.
The RJD leader also questioned why 10, Circular Road cannot be officially designated as the residence for the Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, similar to how the government has earmarked houses for other constitutional positions including the Chief Minister, Deputy Chief Ministers, Assembly Speaker, and Legislative Council chairman.
JD(U) Fires Back
JD(U) national spokesperson Rajeev Ranjan Prasad swiftly countered the RJD's allegations, asserting that "the government is well within its right to earmark another house to Rabri Devi." He referenced a significant legal precedent to support the government's position.
"The Patna High Court, in its 2019 order in response to the 2017 petition of Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, made it clear that the government is not obliged to allot a house to a former CM or any former minister," Prasad stated. He also posed a pointed question: "How long will Lalu Prasad's family talk about houses for themselves?"
BJP national spokesperson Guru Prakash Paswan echoed this sentiment, describing the house allotment as "the prerogative of the government." He dismissed the RJD's arguments, stating that "it is also absurd to say that just because Rabri Devi has been living in the house for 20 years, she cannot be allotted another house."
Historical Significance of 10, Circular Road
The residence at 10, Circular Road holds considerable political significance in contemporary Bihar history. The property, distinguished by a large lantern beside its gate, ranks as perhaps the second most important political address in the state after 1, Aney Marg, the official Chief Minister's residence.
Rabri Devi was first allotted this sprawling bungalow in 2006, shortly after the RJD lost power following fifteen consecutive years in government. The allocation came after a period of political turmoil that saw President's Rule imposed in 2005 after fractured election results, ultimately leading to Nitish Kumar's JD(U) coming to power in October polls that year.
The Yadav family's transition from the Chief Minister's residence to their current address occurred only after the inauspicious month of "Kharmas" concluded on January 15, 2006. The government at that time ensured the family didn't have to move far, allotting them the bungalow located directly behind the CM's residence.
Political Fortunes and the Yadav Family
The Circular Road residence has witnessed dramatic fluctuations in the Yadav family's political fortunes over nearly two decades. The RJD suffered significant electoral setbacks in 2009 Lok Sabha elections, seeing their tally plummet from 26 to just four seats. The following year brought even worse results as the party's Assembly seat count dropped to 22, their lowest performance to date.
Lalu Prasad's legal troubles culminated in 2013 with his conviction in the fodder scam case, resulting in his disqualification from the Lok Sabha and a ban on contesting elections. However, the family experienced a political resurgence in 2015 when Nitish Kumar surprisingly allied with his former rival, bringing the RJD back to power after a decade in opposition.
This alliance marked the political emergence of Lalu's sons, with Tejashwi Yadav becoming Deputy Chief Minister and Tej Pratap joining the state cabinet. The optimism proved short-lived as Nitish Kumar returned to the NDA fold in July 2017, beginning another period of political uncertainty for the Yadav family.
The recent Assembly elections delivered another blow to the RJD, with the party's tally falling to just 25 seats, their worst performance in fifteen years. This electoral setback has been accompanied by reports of internal family tensions, with Lalu's daughter Rohini Acharya criticizing her brother's political advisors and Tej Pratap facing expulsion from both the party and family over personal controversies.
As the standoff over 10, Circular Road continues, the residence has become more than just a house—it represents a symbolic battleground in Bihar's ongoing political wars, reflecting both the historical significance and current challenges facing one of the state's most prominent political families.
