Bihar government tells Rabri Devi to vacate official residence after two decadesAccording to the notice, Ms. Devi, wife of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad, has been allotted accommodation at 39, Harding Road.
Ms. Devi said the the government could evict her forcefully using police force, but she would not vacate the bungalow.
It was allotted to Ms. Devi in her capacity as a former Chief Minister.
10, Circular Road, Patna, has been allotted to Nandkishore Ram, Minister, Dairy, Fisheries, and Animal Resources Department,” the notice said.
“Yes, I can see that Samrat Choudhary, who became the Chief Minister only recently, is quite excited.
A day after Bihar Building Construction Department (BCD) served her a notice for the second time, former Chief Minister Rabri Devi on Saturday (May 30, 2026) refused to vacate her present government accommodation – 10, Circular Road bungalow — in Patna. She challenged the Samrat Choudhary government to evict her from the bungalow, which has now been allotted to Cabinet Minister Nandkishore Ram.
Bihar government tells Rabri Devi to vacate official residence after two decades
According to the notice, Ms. Devi, wife of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad, has been allotted accommodation at 39, Harding Road.
Ms. Devi said the the government could evict her forcefully using police force, but she would not vacate the bungalow. Mr. Prasad’s family lives in this bungalow for more than two decades. It has been a venue for party meetings and discussions for a long time. It was allotted to Ms. Devi in her capacity as a former Chief Minister.
The BCD notice, issued by the Joint Secretary-cum-Estate Officer dated May 29, 2026, stated on November 25, 2025, that 39, Harding Road, Patna, had been earmarked for the Leader of the Opposition, Bihar Legislative Council, and had been allotted to Ms. Rabri Devi.
Alternative accommodation
“The leader has not yet vacated accommodation No. 10, Circular Road, Patna, which she currently holds. It is pertinent to note that, Departmental Memo No. 4738 (M) dated 27.05.2026, accommodation No. 10, Circular Road, Patna, has been allotted to Nandkishore Ram, Minister, Dairy, Fisheries, and Animal Resources Department,” the notice said.
It further stated, “Leader of the Opposition, Bihar Legislative Council is requested to immediately vacate 10, Circular Road, Patna (a Patna Central Pool accommodation currently held by her), while taking possession of accommodation No. 39, Harding Road, which has been earmarked for her.”
Ms. Devi landed at Patna airport from New Delhi on Saturday (May 30, 2026) after celebrating the first birthday of her grandson along with family members. When reporters asked her about the notice, she was visibly irritated and replied angrily. “Yes, I can see that Samrat Choudhary, who became the Chief Minister only recently, is quite excited. Let him get me evicted by force. I am not going to vacate the premises,” she said.
According to sources in the BCD, the new allotment has been in accordance with a 2019 Patna High Court ruling which had quashed “lifetime bungalow allocations for former Chief Ministers as misuse of public funds”.
Police visit
Hours after challenging the government, Secretariat Sub Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Anu Kumari, along with BCD officials, reached the 10, Circular Road residence along with heavy police force. After a few minutes, the security guards allowed them to go inside to meet Ms. Devi. The meeting lasted for less than half an hour.
Reacting to Ms. Devi’s refusal to vacate the bungalow, Bihar Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Sanjay Saraogi said that the rule of law prevails in Bihar, and no individual, no matter how high-ranking his office was or even it was a former Chief Minister, could be considered above law.
“A government residence is not the private property of any individual or family; rather, it is a public property constructed and maintained using the taxpayers’ money. The allotment and re-allotment of such residences are carried out strictly in accordance with the rules and procedures made by the government,” Mr. Saraogi said.
Criticising the notice issued to Ms. Devi, RJD spokesperson Chittaranjan Gagan dismissed the rules cited by the government. “If the bungalow of 2, Desh Ratna Marg — earmarked for the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly since 1977 — can be allocated to a Minister; if the bungalow of 5, Circular Road — earmarked for the Deputy Chief Minister — can be incorporated as an extension of the Chief Minister’s residence; if large bungalows can be allocated to former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar; then what precisely is the justification for allocating a different bungalow to Rabri Devi ji in place of 10, Circular Road?” he asked.
