Samrat Choudhary Intensifies Rabri Residence Dispute, Says ‘Not Anyone’s Personal Property’

The political showdown over government bungalows in Bihar escalated on Tuesday after Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary said official residences belong to the state and must be vacated once a leader leaves office.

Amid the ongoing controversy surrounding former chief minister Rabri Devi’s residence, Choudhary said government accommodation cannot be treated as “Bapauti” (personal property) and stressed that public office holders must relinquish such privileges when their tenure ends.

“This is democracy, not monarchy. Government bungalows are not anyone’s personal property,” he said. Referring to Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, Choudhary said the JD(U) leader had previously vacated the chief minister’s official residence after stepping down from the post, setting an example for others.

He also said that if his party ever asked him to leave office, he would vacate his government bungalow within 24 hours and shift to his private residence.

Rabri Devi stands firm

The remarks came days after Rabri Devi signalled that she would not vacate her official residence voluntarily despite the state’s move to reclaim the property.

The former chief minister said the government was free to evict her forcibly if it wanted the bungalow back, a statement that triggered a fresh political confrontation between the NDA and the RJD.

RJD accuses NDA of hypocrisy

Responding to the controversy, the RJD accused the government of selective action and alleged that several leaders associated with the ruling alliance continue to occupy government accommodations despite not being entitled to them.

The party also questioned the expansion of the Chief Minister’s residence at 1 Anne Marg and sought details about the allotment of government bungalows to NDA leaders.

Calling the action against Rabri Devi an act of “political vendetta”, the RJD argued that former chief ministers should be provided accommodation under established norms and demanded transparency in bungalow allotments across the state.

With both sides hardening their positions, the dispute over official residences has emerged as a major political flashpoint, adding another layer to the ongoing confrontation between the NDA government and the opposition in Bihar.