Rabri Devi, Rashtriya Janata Dal leader and former Bihar chief minister, wrote to the state government on Tuesday seeking extra time to vacate her official residence at 10 Circular Road. She cited her husband Lalu Prasad’s poor health as the reason. The Bihar government had previously issued notices requiring her to leave the home where she has resided with family for more than twenty years. She had previously challenged the authorities to remove her by force if necessary.
The government recently assigned her another residence at 39 Harding Road. Her current home has been allocated to Animal Husbandry Minister Nand Kishor Ram. Ram had claimed the delay in vacating was due to his Dalit background. Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary stated that the residence must be vacated regardless. The latest fifteen-day notice expired on June 15.
In her letter, Devi explained that doctors advised arranging a separate room for Lalu Prasad at the current address to prevent infection. She said she would move once a similar room is prepared at the new residence. Lalu Prasad received a kidney transplant in Singapore in December 2022 and continues to need regular medical care, including periodic visits there. His daughter Rohini Acharya, who donated a kidney, resides in Singapore.
Devi has lived at 10 Circular Road since Nitish Kumar became chief minister in 2005. After Samrat Choudhary took office as the first BJP chief minister, notices were served and a new home was allotted. On June 15 the government assigned the bungalow at 5 Deshratna Marg to Health Minister Nishant Kumar, son of Nitish Kumar. Nishant had previously occupied 2 Deshratna Marg. During the previous Grand Alliance government, Tejashwi Yadav lived at 5 Deshratna Marg while serving as deputy chief minister.
