RJD Defies Eviction Notice: Rabri Devi Will Not Vacate Government Bungalow Despite Bihar Administration's Directive

Rabri Devi has been asked to relocate to 39, Hardinge Road.

Patna:

The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) declared on Wednesday that former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi, spouse of party founder Lalu Prasad, will not surrender the government bungalow she has occupied for the past two decades.

Mangani Lal Mandal, the party's state unit president, made this statement following a notification from the state building construction department instructing Rabri Devi to move to 39, Hardinge Road, which has been "designated" as the residence for the leader of the opposition in the legislative council.

Speaking to journalists, Mandal emphasized that 10, Circular Road, the bungalow located directly opposite the Chief Minister's official residence at 1, Anney Marg, "will not be vacated, regardless of circumstances."

He claimed that "the decision reveals the malice that the ruling NDA harbors toward our leader Lalu Prasad. Why did Chief Minister Nitish Kumar wait twenty years before designating a government bungalow for the opposition leader in the legislative council? And if necessary, why not designate 10 Circular Road? They should have considered that its residents, Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi, have both served as chief ministers."

State Minister Santosh Kumar Suman explained that the bungalow had been allocated to Rabri Devi under a previous provision allowing "lifelong" residences for former chief ministers.

"That provision had to be discontinued following an Allahabad High Court ruling several years ago. Nevertheless, we are not depriving Rabri Devi of housing. Moreover, the government has the authority to determine which bungalow should be allocated to whom," Suman stated.

Mandal insisted, "Nitish Kumar has made this decision to gain favor with the BJP. The JD(U) leader has been unsettled by his alliance partner's assertiveness, which forced him to relinquish the Home portfolio he valued greatly. Knowing the BJP's animosity toward Lalu ji, Nitish Kumar has attempted to appease Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his associates by disrespecting our leader."

The RJD official added, "The ruling NDA should remember that although we are in opposition, we received more votes than any of their constituents in the recent assembly elections. According to the Election Commission, we garnered over one crore votes, while the BJP, the NDA's largest member, received less than 90 lakh. They should not attempt to diminish our significance."

Mandal, speaking after a party meeting that assessed the RJD's disappointing election performance, which saw its representation drop from 75 to 25 seats in five years, added, "We did not lose the elections. The system worked against us. We should view ourselves as victors, not losers."

"Consider the enormous resources available to the BJP-led NDA. Our leader, Tejashwi Yadav, had to compete against their fleet of helicopters and chartered planes, and the substantial financial contributions from major corporations. We must not consider ourselves defeated," Mandal concluded.