Lalu-Rabri legacy exits Circular Road
It was curtains for one of the most popular residential addresses of Bihar, which served political dishes like chai, litti chowka and the anecdotes by RJD’s first family, former Chief Ministers of Bihar, Lalu Prasad Yadav and Rabri Devi, for about two decades.
The hustling bustling saw rise-and-rise as well as an ‘intermittent’ fall of the Lalu’s fiefdom in Bihar. It became a hotspot for media personnel round the clock as Lalu’s six decades of political journey had ingredients in the fodder scam, job for land scam and many more, all of which required media attention at the national level.
Lalu and Rabri Devi began shifting their household goods from their Government bungalow at 10, Circular Road, to their new private bungalow. The Yadavs, suffering from the party’s poor performance in the just-concluded Assembly polls and a family upheaval, are likely to make Mahuabagh their primary home and the new State Government allotted 39 Harding Road for official purposes.
In a related development, Rabri’s elder son, Tej Pratap Yadav, has also been asked to vacate his allotted bungalow at 26, Strand Road, now reassigned to another minister.
Last-minute final touches were being given at the 1.5-acre Mahuabagh house with some new interiors and upholstery. Pickup vans were spotted leaving the Circular Road bungalow for the Mahubagh premises with belongings.
The Circular Road bungalow, located directly opposite Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s official residence at 1, Anne Marg, was allotted to Rabri Devi back in 2006. On November 25, the State Government’s building construction department reassigned it and allocated her a new official residence at 39 Harding Road, designated for the leader of the Opposition in the legislative council.
RJD initially opposed the eviction notice, labelling it an act of “political malice” by the ruling Nitish Kumar-led NDA alliance.
RJD insisted the bungalow “would not be vacated at any cost”. On the other hand, NDA leaders defended the move as compliance with rules. A minister pointed out that lifelong bungalow allotments for former chief ministers were scrapped following a court ruling, while BJP spokespersons accused the Yadav family of being accustomed to government perks.
Sources said Lalu Prasad and his son and heir apparent, Tejashwi Yadav, were currently not in Patna while Rabri was overseeing the shifting process.
The new residential bungalow in Mahuabagh is located about 7km west of the current residence. Construction of the building started about five years ago, with interior work in the final stage in the two-storey structure with around nine rooms, surrounded by a 15-20 foot high boundary wall for security.
