Rabri Devi is asked to vacate 10 Circular Road after nearly 20 years. [Photo: X]
Former Bihar CM Rabri Devi has been asked to vacate her long-term residence at 10 Circular Road, ending almost 20 years of her stay at the iconic bungalow. The Building Construction Department (BCD) has allotted her a new residence at 39 Hardinge Road, a spacious three-acre minister-level property. The order was issued on Tuesday, soon after the first cabinet meeting of the new government led by CM Nitish Kumar.
Rabri Devi has lived at 10 Circular Road since November 2005, when she stepped down as chief minister and handed over the official CM bungalow at 1 Anne Marg to Nitish Kumar.
The Circular Road residence also became the political centre for the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), hosting crucial meetings and strategy discussions.
Her husband, former CM and RJD chief Lalu Prasad, also shares the residence.
The new allotment comes from BCD joint secretary and estate officer Shiv Ranjan, who assigned the Hardinge Road bungalow to Rabri Devi based on her position as Leader of Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council. BCD minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary confirmed the move and said the new residence offers ample space and is suitable for high-ranking officials.
The RJD, however, responded with caution. Party spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan said, “We will say after we receive the official notification,” indicating the party is waiting for formal communication.
The development revives memories of the 2019 Patna High Court ruling that struck down lifetime bungalow allotments for former chief ministers. The court called the practice a misuse of taxpayer-funded resources. It issued notices to ex-CMs, including Rabri Devi, Satish Prasad Singh, Jagannath Mishra, and Jitan Ram Manjhi, directing them to vacate their government quarters.
Following the ruling, several bungalows, including one occupied by Nitish Kumar as a former CM, were reassigned. Rabri Devi continued to stay at 10 Circular Road only because the allotment was reframed under her role as the Leader of Opposition.
The timing of the change is notable. It comes just after the NDA’s sweeping win in the 2025 Bihar assembly elections, where the alliance secured 202 out of 243 seats.
The victory marks Nitish Kumar’s fifth term as chief minister and has strengthened the government’s authority to resolve pending administrative matters, including high-profile accommodations. Analysts say the win reflects the NDA’s strong governance record, welfare schemes, and a united voter base.
The relocation also comes at a time when Rabri Devi, Lalu Prasad, and their son Tejashwi Yadav face trial in the IRCTC hotel corruption case. They are accused of cheating and criminal conspiracy, but have pleaded not guilty. The case keeps the family under constant public and political scrutiny.
Political observers say the decision signals a wider administrative clean-up. The new government appears focused on enforcing old orders, standardizing allotments, and reducing the perception of political privilege. The shift may also push the opposition to reorganize its operational base, with analysts watching for changes in RJD’s strategy.
