Bihar is in the middle of a new political row, this time over a high-profile address in Patna: 10, Ring Road. The opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party are vying for the headquarters allotted to former Prime Minister Rabri Devi.
The problem came to light after the Building Construction Department issued an order allocating the bungalow to Dairy and Fisheries Minister Nand Kishore Ram.
Rabri Devi, who was on leave when the order was issued, returned to Patna and remained adamant that she would not leave home. Since then, a war of words has broken out between the two rival camps in Bihar.
Samrat-RJD rivalry
Politics in Bihar has traditionally swung between a few families and traditional camps, where alliances are slippery and the battle for prestige is at an all-time high.
While government bungalows reserved for heads of state or their rivals have become less important amid shifting relations and shifting alliances, some addresses are more important in the circles of power in Bihar.
10 Road, Ring Road is one such address in Bihar, which has more power than the nameplate. The house is adjacent to the Prime Minister’s residence and Raj Bhavan.
1 Ani Marg, or the Prime Minister’s Residence, is another address of importance.
While Nitish Kumar was at the helm of affairs until recently for the past two decades, in parallel, the Lalu family, one of the powerful figures in Bihar politics, has been occupying the house since 2006.
The house was allotted to former Chief Minister Rabri Devi after Nitish took over as Chief Minister in 2005. Rabri Devi vacated the Prime Minister’s residence, 1 Ani Marg, and moved to the neighboring house at 10 Ring Road.
Why did the row appear on 10, Ring Road
This is not the first time that the former prime minister has been asked to vacate the house. Responding to the latest notice, she told reporters: “I can see Samrat Chaudhary is very excited about becoming Prime Minister. May his government forcefully evict me. I will not vacate the house.”
The house was allotted to her by the previous government under Nitish Kumar as former Chief Minister.
The government first asked Rabri Devi to vacate the house in November last year when Nitish was still the chief minister. The government then allotted the house to Vijay Kumar Sinha, then Deputy Chief Minister.
However, Sinha was never able to move to the site as the RJD leader refused to give up the bungalow.
Bihar Building Construction Minister Leshi Singh said the earlier order allocating 39 Hardinge Road to the Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council still stands.
So, it is better that Rabri Devi moves to that house,” said Leshi Singh.
Samrat-RJD rivalry
The final battle is more symbolic than it seems. This comes weeks after Samrat Chaudhary came to power in the first position of a BJP leader in the state.
Interestingly, Chaudhary served in the Rabri Devi government when the RJD leader was the Prime Minister. Chaudhary joined the BJP in 2017.
After more than 20 years, during which Nitish Kumar ruled, the house remains in the Lal family. One of the reasons behind the move was Nitish Kumar’s change of alliances with the RJD and BJP. The JD(U) chief has formed an alliance with the RJD twice in the last two decades.
Rabri Devi, Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Assembly, was allotted 39 Hardinge Road some time ago. However, she refused to vacate her current residence.
RJD state president Manjani Lal Mandal had raised the reason, saying that the current house suits RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, who has been ill for a long time.
Lalu’s party also has a residence on Polo Road No. 1, which is allotted to Tejashwi Yadav, the working president of the RJD, as the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly. However, he spends most of his time on 10, Ring Road.
