Bihar is in the midst of a new political row over a high-profile address in Patna: 10, Circular Road. The opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) and the ruling BJP are sparring over the high-profile residence allotted to former chief minister Rabri Devi.
The issue emerged after the building construction department issued an order to allot the bungalow to dairy and fisheries minister Nand Kishor Ram. Rabri Devi, who had been away on a vacation when the order was passed, flew back to Patna and remained resolute that she won't vacate the house.
Since then, a war of words has started between the rival camps in Bihar. The house, adjacent to the chief minister's residence and the Governor House, holds more power beyond its nameplate.
Rabri Devi was first asked by the government to vacate the house in November last year when Nitish was still the CM. The government had then allotted the house to BJP leader Vijay Kumar Sinha, then a deputy CM.
However, Sinha could never move to the location since the RJD leader refused to give up the bungalow. The latest battle holds more symbolism than it seems, with the order coming weeks after Samrat Choudhary came to power in a first for a BJP leader to head the state.
