Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary: Govt bungalow not ancestral property, slams RJD
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary launched a pointed attack on the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leadership on Tuesday at a public gathering in Sheikhpura, escalating the controversy over the government bungalow at 10 Circular Road, Patna, occupied by former Chief Minister Rabri Devi, her husband Lalu Prasad Yadav, and Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav.
Without naming the family directly, Choudhary declared: “A government bungalow is not anyone’s ancestral property.” The remark was a clear reference to the ongoing standoff over the residence, which the Building Construction Department has ordered vacated within 15 days.
The Bungalow Dispute
The controversy centres on the official accommodation at 10 Circular Road in Patna, long occupied by the Yadav family. According to officials, a vacation notice was first issued on 25 November 2025, but the premises remain occupied. The government has allotted an alternative official residence to Rabri Devi at 39 Hardinge Road, but authorities claim the family has not acted on repeated requests to shift.
What the Chief Minister Said
Choudhary alleged that certain political leaders have grown so attached to government housing that they demand separate residences for different family members, while remaining indifferent to public welfare. He argued that elected representatives must prioritise citizens’ concerns over personal comfort after leaving office.
Reflecting on his own record, the Chief Minister said he had served in multiple ministerial roles — including as Bihar’s Home Minister — without ever treating official accommodation as personal property. He added that after assuming the Chief Minister’s office, he instructed officials to install a signboard outside his residence explicitly stating it belongs to a public servant, not a private individual.
Choudhary’s Own Track Record
The Chief Minister disclosed that he has relocated between official accommodations eleven times since 1999, underscoring what he described as the correct attitude toward government housing. He also drew a favourable comparison with former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, noting that Kumar vacated his official residence promptly every time he demitted office, without waiting for a government notice.
What Happens Next
With the 15-day vacation deadline now in force and no indication that the Yadav family intends to move, the dispute is likely to deepen. The government’s next step — whether legal action or further administrative pressure — will determine how far the standoff escalates ahead of Bihar’s politically charged calendar.