RJD targets Bihar CM Chaudhary over Rabri Devi's 10 Circular Road eviction
Synopsis
The RJD has turned a housing dispute into a political grenade, accusing Bihar's NDA government of using eviction notices to settle scores with Rabri Devi while conveniently ignoring similar violations by its own leaders. With Deputy CMs and others allegedly occupying irregular accommodations, the party is demanding transparency — and the government has yet to respond.
Key Takeaways
RJD held a press conference on 1 June in Patna targeting Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary over the eviction of Rabri Devi from 10 Circular Road .
National Principal General Secretary Abdul Bari Siddiqui alleged the eviction was politically motivated and reflected a 'spirit of vendetta'.
The RJD questioned why Deputy CMs Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Vijendra Yadav were not occupying their designated official accommodations.
The party demanded the government publicly disclose the criteria for all government bungalow allotments across legislators, MPs, and former ministers.
Lalu Prasad Yadav's entitlement to a former chief minister's residence was raised, with the RJD calling for equal treatment.
The RJD characterised the row as a matter of democratic norms and equal application of rules, not merely an administrative dispute.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Monday, 1 June escalated the political row over government residence allotments in Bihar, directly targeting Chief Minister Samrat Chaudhary over the disputed eviction of former Chief Minister and current Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, Rabri Devi, from her official bungalow at 10 Circular Road, Patna. The party alleged the move was politically motivated and amounted to selective administrative action against the opposition.
RJD's Key Allegations
Addressing a press conference at the Karpoori Auditorium of the RJD State Office in Patna, National Principal General Secretary Abdul Bari Siddiqui, flanked by State President Mangani Lal Mandal and Scheduled Castes/Tribes Cell National President Shivchandra Ram, fired a volley of questions at the state government. Siddiqui alleged that the Bihar government's push to vacate Rabri Devi's residence was driven by a 'spirit of vendetta' rather than any principled application of rules.
He questioned why Rabri Devi was being asked to leave while, according to him, several other political leaders and public representatives continued to occupy government accommodations under various arrangements. The RJD demanded that the government publicly disclose the criteria under which all such allotments had been made.
Questions Over the CM's Residence and Deputy CMs
Siddiqui trained his sights on the Chief Minister's official residential complex as well, claiming it had expanded significantly over the years. He specifically questioned the incorporation of the property at 5 Deshratna Marg, which he alleged had earlier been earmarked for the Deputy Chief Minister's use.
He further pressed the government on why Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Vijendra Yadav were not residing in accommodations traditionally designated for their office — if, as the government claimed, it was strictly following established rules and regulations.
The Lalu Prasad Angle
The RJD leader also raised the case of party president and former Bihar Chief Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav, arguing that the same considerations extended to other former chief ministers and sitting Members of Parliament should apply equally to him. He drew a pointed comparison with the tenure of the Mahagathbandhan government, asserting that political opponents had not been subjected to eviction drives even when party workers demanded it at the time.
A Broader Democratic Argument
Siddiqui framed the dispute as no longer a routine administrative matter, arguing it had evolved into a question of democratic norms, political propriety, and the equal application of government rules. He accused the current National Democratic Alliance (NDA) dispensation in Bihar of using administrative machinery for political ends — a charge the government had not immediately responded to at the time of reporting.
This comes amid a charged political climate in Bihar ahead of the state's assembly elections, where the ruling alliance and the opposition Grand Alliance led by the RJD have been locked in sustained confrontation. The residence row adds another front to that battle, with the RJD seeking to cast the government as both vindictive and inconsistent.
Point of View
Sitting MPs, commission chairpersons — it forces the government to either defend a complex web of exceptions or concede inconsistency. The charge of 'selective action' is difficult to rebut without full disclosure of allotment records, which the government has so far not offered. What is striking is the RJD's invocation of democratic norms rather than personal grievance; it signals the party wants this fight on institutional ground, not sympathy ground. With Bihar elections on the horizon, the residence row is less about housing and more about framing the NDA as a government that uses the state apparatus against political opponents — a narrative the opposition will press hard.
NationPress
18 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Rabri Devi being asked to vacate her residence at 10 Circular Road?
The Bihar government has sought the vacation of Rabri Devi's official bungalow at 10 Circular Road, Patna , though the government's stated basis for the move has not been detailed in current reports. The RJD alleges the action is politically motivated rather than grounded in a consistent application of residence rules.
What did the RJD allege at its press conference on 1 June?
The RJD alleged that the Bihar government was engaging in 'selective action' by evicting Rabri Devi while allowing other political leaders and public representatives to continue occupying government accommodations. The party demanded public disclosure of the criteria governing all official residence allotments in the state.
Who are the Deputy Chief Ministers named in the controversy?
Vijay Kumar Chaudhary and Vijendra Yadav are the two Deputy Chief Ministers of Bihar named by the RJD. The party questioned why they were not residing in accommodations traditionally designated for the Deputy Chief Minister's office, if the government was strictly following established rules.
What is the RJD's argument regarding Lalu Prasad Yadav?
The RJD argued that Lalu Prasad Yadav , as a former Chief Minister of Bihar, should be entitled to the same residential considerations extended to other former chief ministers and sitting Members of Parliament. The party called for equal treatment under the same rules the government is citing against Rabri Devi.
How does the RJD frame this beyond a housing dispute?
Abdul Bari Siddiqui described the row as a matter of democratic norms, political propriety, and the equal application of government rules — not a routine administrative issue. The RJD accused the current government of using administrative measures as a political weapon against the opposition.
