Rabri Devi, Lalu to vacate 10 Circular Road Patna residence after 2 decades; is it a sign of changing political climate in Bihar?
Rabri Devi 10 Circular Road Residence Eviction: An era in Bihar politics is coming to an end. The famous bungalow at 10 Circular Road, a center of power and politics for the past 20 years, has now slipped out of the hands of the Lalu family. In a major setback, the new NDA government has ordered former Chief Minister Rabri Devi to vacate her current government residence. This news has sparked a flurry of speculation in political circles about Lalu Yadav's new residence.
On Tuesday, the Building Construction Department released a new list of housing allocations for ministers and the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council. Under this, Rabri Devi has now been allotted a new bungalow at 39 Harding Road in her capacity as Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council.
Shiv Ranjan, the department's joint secretary and land property officer, has issued a formal letter in this regard. The Lalu family, who moved into this residence on January 16, 2006, will now be preparing to pack up their belongings, which is no less than a major setback for them.
What RJD leader said?
Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Shakti Singh Yadav on Tuesday expressed surprise over the Bihar government's decision. "Rabri Devi is the former Chief Minister of Bihar and is also the current Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council...It is a matter of surprise under which rule they have changed the residence...This kind of decision is surprising," he said.
Rabri Devi served as the Chief Minister of Bihar from 1997 to 2005, making her the first woman to hold the post. Rabri Devi became Chief Minister following the resignation of her husband and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav in 1997, when he was forced to step down as CM after an arrest warrant was issued against him in a fodder scam case.
BJP's influence
This change is not merely a change of house, but a sign of the changing political climate in Bihar. The Lalu family had been living here since Nitish Kumar's government came to power in 2005. Whether in power or in opposition, 10 Circular Road has always been a power center for Lalu's politics. However, the BJP's dominance is clearly visible in the new NDA government. Although the Building Construction Department is headed by JDU minister Vijay Chaudhary, this decision is being seen as a tough stance by the government and is being interpreted as a sign of that.
JDU spokesperson Neeraj Kumar continued his sarcasm, saying that Rabri Devi will not even open the bathroom tap this time, as his party will keep a close eye on the entire change. This statement was a reference to past incidents of damage to property after vacating government accommodation during previous governments, which has drawn criticism from the ruling party.
Prakash Kumar Pandey