Against the backdrop of the notice issued to former Chief Minister Rabri Devi to vacate the 10, Circular Road bungalow in Patna, the Opposition Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) on Monday came out with a list of several Bihar leaders who, it alleged, have been allotted ministerial bungalows in violation of rules.
RJD national general secretary Abdul Bari Siddiqui, State president Mangani Lal Mandal and the party’s national president of the Scheduled Caste/Tribe Cell Sheo Chandra Ram raised questions over the allotment of official residences under the BJP-led NDA government.
Addressing a press conference at the party office, the leaders questioned how six MPs—Upendra Kushwaha, Jitan Ram Manjhi, Nitin Nabin, Nitish Kumar, Sanjay Jha and Devesh Chandra Thakur—have been allotted bungalows in Patna.
Quoting Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to curb discretionary spending, Mr. Siddiqui said, “The Chief Minister of the country’s poorest State has the most luxurious, lavish, and seven-star bungalow in India. Samrat Choudhary’s bungalow is even larger than the Prime Minister’s residence. He has also merged 5, Deshratna Marg, formerly designated for the Deputy Chief Minister, into the Chief Minister’s residence.”
The RJD MLC further claimed that Mr. Choudhary has expanded his official residence to more than 15 acres in Patna.
Mr. Siddiqui pointed out that in Patna, two residences—5, Deshratna Marg and 3, Stand Road—had earlier been designated for the Deputy Chief Minister in Bihar. He asked if the Chief Minister is so strict about rules and regulations, why is he not shifting Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Kumar Choudhary and Bijendra Prasad Yadav to the previously designated residences?
“If Vijay Choudhary and Bijendra Yadav are living in bungalows previously allotted to them as Ministers, why is Rabri Devi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Bihar Legislative Council and the first woman Chief Minister of Bihar, being treated in an immature, politically malicious, biased, and vindictive manner? The government is acting out of jealousy and hatred, “Mr. Siddiqui said.
He further claimed that the Bihar government had earlier informed the Patna High Court in writing that the 5, Deshratna Marg bungalow was earmarked for the Deputy Chief Minister and questioned under what rule it had now been merged with the Chief Minister’s residence.
“Can the government justify under what capacity the BJP national president Nitin Nabin is residing at 3, Taylor Road bungalow. How have Rajya Sabha members Upendra Kushwaha and Sanjay Jha been allotted bungalows in Patna? On what basis has Lok Sabha member from Janata Dal (United) Devesh Chandra Thakur been allotted the 1, Taylor Road bungalow? Two former Chief Ministers, Jitan Ram Manjhi (now Union Minister) and Nitish Kumar, have been allotted bungalows in Patna, even though they are MPs,” Mr. Siddiqui said.
He added that neither of the former Chief Ministers is a member of the Bihar Legislature, and Samrat Choudhary should explain in what capacity they have been allotted bungalows both in Patna and Delhi.
“If both former Chief Ministers have been allotted bungalows, why has Lalu Yadav not been given one as a former Chief Minister? It’s well known that Lalu Yadav and Rabri Devi are both former Chief Ministers, yet they have been allotted only one residence,” he said.
Mr. Siddiqui asserted that if the government allocates a new bungalow to Rabri Devi in her capacity as Leader of the Opposition in the Legislative Council, then Lalu Prasad is also entitled to a residence as a former Chief Minister.
He listed out several ruling alliance leaders who, according to the RJD, have been allotted ministerial bungalows, like former Minister Raju Singh, MLA Karanjit Singh, MLA Manorama Devi, former Minister Krishna Kumar Mantu, Taraiya MLA Janak Singh and former MLA Gyanendra Singh Gyanu.
“The Bihar CM cannot make rules according to his convenience,” said Mr. Siddiqui, questioning why Minister Santosh Kumar Suman and his wife Deepa Kumari have allegedly been allotted separate bungalows and Lalu Prasad and Rabri Devi have not.
Mr. Mandal, meanwhile, alleged that the BJP-led NDA government in Bihar is not complying with the guidelines previously laid down by the Patna High Court regarding house allotment.