Former Bihar CM Rabri Devi Asked to Relocate After Two Decades at 10 Circular Road Residence

Rabri Devi, who served as the Chief Minister of Bihar from 1997 to 2005, has been asked to relocate from her long-time residence at 10 Circular Road in Patna, where she has lived for approximately two decades.

On Tuesday, the Bihar Building Construction Department allocated House No. 39 on Harding Road in Patna to Rabri Devi in her capacity as Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council, a position she has held since 2018.

Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Shakti Singh Yadav expressed surprise at this decision by the Bihar government. He suggested that while those officially in power are figureheads, those holding portfolios wield the real influence, implying increased BJP control in government decisions.

"Rabri Devi is the former Chief Minister of Bihar and currently serves as Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council. It's surprising under which regulation they have changed her residence. It appears the BJP's influence has grown substantially in governmental affairs, making this decision particularly unexpected," Yadav commented.

Rabri Devi made history as Bihar's first female Chief Minister, assuming office in 1997 following her husband Lalu Prasad Yadav's resignation. Lalu was compelled to step down after facing an arrest warrant related to the fodder scam case. She remained in the position until 2005.

The political landscape in Bihar has recently transformed after the NDA secured a landslide victory in the state assembly elections. The coalition won 202 seats out of 243, while the opposition Mahagathbandhan managed to secure only 35 seats. This marked the second time the NDA has crossed the 200-seat threshold in Bihar state elections, following their 206-seat victory in 2010.

Within the NDA coalition, the BJP won 89 seats, with Janata Dal (United) claiming 85 seats. Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) secured 19 seats, while Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) won 5 and Rashtriya Lok Morcha took 4 seats.

On the opposition side, Rabri Devi's party, the RJD, won 25 seats. The Indian National Congress secured 6 seats, while the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (Liberation) won 2. The Indian Inclusive Party and Communist Party of India (Marxist) each claimed 1 seat.

All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen won 5 seats, and the Bahujan Samaj Party secured 1 seat.

The Bihar assembly elections were conducted in two phases on November 6 and 11, achieving a historic 67.13 percent voter turnout—the highest since 1951. Notably, female voter participation (71.6 percent) exceeded that of male voters (62.8 percent).