‘Government Property, Not Anyone’s Personal Estate’: Samrat Choudhary Escalates Rabri Bungalow Row

The row over government bungalows in Bihar intensified on Tuesday after Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader Samrat Choudhary asserted.

That official residences are meant for public office holders, not for permanent occupation. Speaking amid the ongoing dispute over former chief minister Rabri Devi’s residence, Choudhary said government bungalows cannot be treated as personal property and should be vacated once a person ceases to hold the post that entitled them to the accommodation.

“This is a democracy, not a monarchy. Government houses are not anyone’s personal property,” he said, citing Chief Minister Nitish Kumar as an example of a leader who vacated the official chief minister’s residence after demitting office.

Choudhary added that public representatives must be prepared to give up official privileges when their responsibilities end.

“The day my party tells me that my role is over, I will vacate the government bungalow within 24 hours and move to my own house,” he said.

Rabri Devi refuses to vacate

The remarks come amid a growing standoff between the Bihar government and former chief minister Rabri Devi over the official residence she currently occupies.

Rabri Devi recently made it clear that she would not leave the bungalow voluntarily. She said that if the government wanted the property back, it could remove her by force.

Her statement sparked a strong response from the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which accused the NDA government of targeting opposition leaders while ignoring similar cases involving leaders from the ruling alliance.

RJD launches counterattack

In a detailed social media post, the RJD alleged that after assuming office, Choudhary expanded the Chief Minister’s residence at 1 Anne Marg by incorporating adjoining government properties, increasing the overall campus significantly.

The party questioned whether such a large residential complex was necessary and sought details about the expansion and usage of the property.

The opposition also criticised the decision to rename the residence as “Lok Sevak Awas”, alleging that the move was being used to justify changes made to the sprawling bungalow complex.

Allegations of double standards

The RJD further claimed that several NDA leaders continue to occupy government residences despite not holding positions that would ordinarily qualify them for such accommodation.

The party demanded that the Bihar government release a complete list of bungalow allotments and clarify the criteria under which the residences were assigned.

Describing the action against Rabri Devi as politically motivated, the RJD argued that both Rabri Devi and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav, as former chief ministers, deserve official accommodation under existing norms.

The Bihar government has not yet issued a detailed response to the opposition’s allegations. With neither side showing signs of backing down, the bungalow dispute has emerged as the latest flashpoint in Bihar’s increasingly combative political landscape.