Former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi has been directed to vacate her long-time residence at 10 Circular Road in Patna, ending an almost two-decade chapter tied closely to the state’s political history. The state’s Building Construction Department has now allotted her a new bungalow at 39 Hardinge Road, a large ministerial property spread across more than three acres.
The development comes shortly after the first cabinet meeting of the newly re-elected Nitish Kumar government, indicating a fresh round of administrative restructuring following the NDA’s massive victory in the 2025 assembly elections.
Why Rabri Devi Was Asked to Shift
The order to vacate 10 Circular Road was issued by BCD joint secretary and estate officer Shiv Ranjan. The new house has been allotted to Rabri Devi in her role as leader of opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council.
Rabri Devi had moved into 10 Circular Road in November 2005, soon after stepping down as chief minister and handing over the official CM residence at 1 Anne Marg to Nitish Kumar. Since then, the bungalow had become the political headquarters of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, frequently used for strategy meetings and family discussions. Her husband, Lalu Prasad, also operated from the same premises whenever he was in Patna.
BCD Minister Confirms Allotment
BCD minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary confirmed the new allotment, stating that the Hardinge Road bungalow offers more space and is designated for high-ranking political office-bearers. The bungalow is considered one of the more prominent government accommodations in the capital.
RJD Reacts Cautiously
While the order has been issued, the Rashtriya Janata Dal has taken a cautious stance. RJD spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan said the party has not yet received the official shifting notice. He added that the party would comment further once the document is formally delivered.
The statement indicates that the RJD is adopting a watch-and-wait approach, especially given the tense political climate following the NDA’s decisive victory.
The 2019 Court Order That Changed Allotments for Ex-Chief Ministers
This move also revives memories of a major Patna High Court judgment from 2019, which cancelled lifetime government bungalow allotments for former chief ministers. The court ruled that such accommodations were a misuse of taxpayer funds and ordered all ex-CMs to vacate their long-held properties.
The suo motu order affected several former chief ministers, including Satish Prasad Singh, Jagannath Mishra, Jitan Ram Manjhi and Rabri Devi. Many were asked to move out of their official residences, and one bungalow previously allotted to Nitish Kumar as a former CM was reassigned to the chief secretary.
After the ruling, Rabri Devi’s stay at 10 Circular Road was justified under a new designation: leader of opposition in the legislative council. This allowed her to legally remain there despite the judgment. The latest directive effectively ends that arrangement.
A Political Shakeup After NDA’s Landslide Victory
The timing of the new allotment is significant. The NDA delivered a strong performance in the 2025 Bihar assembly elections, winning 202 out of 243 seats. This marks the alliance’s second landslide victory of over 200 seats after 2010. Analysts credit the win to welfare schemes, caste-based consolidation and Nitish Kumar’s governance pitch.
Nitish Kumar has now begun his fifth term as chief minister, even after shifting alliances several times over the last decade. The new government, empowered by its mandate, is now moving swiftly through pending administrative matters, including housing reallocations and other structural changes.
Sources suggest that bungalow reallocations often signal deeper political recalibrations. As the government strengthens its control, senior opposition figures are expected to face similar administrative changes.
Legal Troubles Add to Political Pressure
The shifting of Rabri Devi’s residence comes at a time when she, her husband Lalu Prasad and their son Tejashwi Yadav are facing legal scrutiny in the IRCTC hotel corruption case. All three have pleaded not guilty to charges including cheating and criminal conspiracy, but the trial continues to keep the family in the national spotlight.
The opposition has claimed that the timing of these developments is politically motivated, though the state government attributes the changes purely to routine administrative decisions.
Rabri Devi recently also alleged threats to her son Tejashwi Yadav’s life from political rivals, heightening the tension between the ruling NDA and the RJD.
What the Move Means Politically
The reallocation of a political bungalow may appear routine, but in Bihar’s political landscape, such decisions often signify broader power shifts.
Political observers say:
- It marks the end of 10 Circular Road as the symbolic center of RJD politics.
- It gives the ruling NDA space to reassert administrative control.
- It puts pressure on the opposition at a time when they are facing legal and electoral setbacks.
- It signals that the Nitish Kumar government may enforce stricter rules on government accommodation following the High Court’s earlier order.
With the opposition weakened and the NDA firmly in control, the shifting of Rabri Devi’s residence may be the first of several administrative decisions that reshape Bihar’s political map.
What Happens Next
Rabri Devi is expected to relocate once the official order is acknowledged by her party. The transition will formally shift the political epicenter of the RJD from 10 Circular Road to the new Hardinge Road bungalow.
Whether the move triggers further political adjustments, internal RJD reshuffling or renewed tensions with the ruling government remains to be seen. However, one thing is certain: this shift marks an end of an era in Bihar’s political story.cc
