Patna: Former Bihar Chief Minister and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, Rabri Devi, has finally vacated her government bungalow at 10 Circular Road in Patna. The move marks the end of a two decade long association with the high profile residence, as she has now shifted to a private home in the city’s Kautilya Nagar area with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) national president Lalu Prasad Yadav.
The transition follows a period of administrative pressure regarding the evacuation of the premises. On June 22, the state building construction department had issued a formal notice, directing the occupants to vacate the bungalow within seven days.
While the state government had initially allocated an alternative government residence, Bungalow number 39 on Harding Road, to Rabri Devi, she chose not to move into that facility. Meanwhile, the family of Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav has relocated to a separate government residence situated on Polo Road.
The 10 Circular Road bungalow has remained a central point of political activity for the RJD for many years. It was originally allotted to Rabri Devi in 2006 during her tenure as the Leader of the Opposition. Over the past twenty years, the residence served as the backdrop for numerous significant political developments, including the period when Tejashwi Yadav served as the Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar.
The vacation of the bungalow was not without its share of administrative friction. When the initial notice to vacate was issued, Rabri Devi’s office had requested additional time, citing that renovation work at the newly allotted Harding Road residence was still underway. Her office had also requested a detailed inventory of the assets present in the 10 Circular Road bungalow at the time of its initial allocation in 2006 to ensure a transparent handover process.
Following the departure of the RJD leadership, the state government has designated the 10 Circular Road property for Bihar Minister Nand Kishore Yadav. Such transitions of government properties involving prominent political figures frequently attract significant public and political attention in Bihar, mirroring similar controversies seen across the country.
With this relocation, a chapter of Patna’s political history associated with the Circular Road address draws to a close, as the veteran RJD leaders settle into their private residence in Kautilya Nagar.