After nearly two decades at the helm of Bihar, former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is gearing up for a new phase in public life and a change of address.
Now a Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament, his household properties began moving on Friday from the Prime Minister’s official residence at 1 Ann Marg to 7 Ring Road in the state capital Patna.
What caught attention during the transportation process was the modesty of the items being transported. In contrast to the sprawling arrangements often associated with senior politicians, photos shared by news agency ANI showed coolers being taken away. Coolers were seen being loaded on a wheelbarrow, while basic furniture such as beds and tables were transported on tractors.
The simple nature of the move provided a glimpse into Kumar’s simple lifestyle, even after serving as chief minister for nearly 20 years.
From 1 Ann Marg to 7 Ring Road
All the properties are being shifted from 1 Anne Marg – the official residence of the Chief Minister of Bihar – to 7 Circular Road, where the bungalow passes to its new occupant, Samrat Choudhary, who has now taken charge.
Interestingly, Ring Road 7 is not unfamiliar territory for Kumar. He has lived there before, including during a period of political significance in 2014.
Before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, after separating from the National Democratic Alliance, Kumar’s JD(U) faced a major setback, winning just two seats.
Taking responsibility for the loss, Kumar resigned from his post as Prime Minister and appointed Jitan Ram Manjhi to the post. Also at that time, he vacated 1 Ann Marge and moved to 7 Ring Road.
Now, as a former prime minister, he is set to return once again to the same residence.
He is said to be expected to move to the No. 7 Ring Road residence on Saturday, May 2. Currently, after resigning from the post of Prime Minister, he continues to reside at No. 1 Anne Marg House.
The focus remains on Bihar politics
While Kumar has been allotted a residence in Delhi as a Rajya Sabha MP, he has made it clear that Bihar will remain his primary base. He intends to spend most of his time in the state, remaining active in politics and contributing to its development.
Kumar’s move comes on the heels of his move to Rajya Sabha. He was elected to the Senate on 16 March, and subsequently resigned from the post of Member of the Bihar Legislative Council on 30 March.
Earlier, he said the new NDA government would have “full cooperation and guidance” and expressed confidence that Bihar would continue to progress.
