Rabri issued notice to vacate govt bungalow

Former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi was issued notice to vacate 1 Anne Marg, the sprawling bungalow spread over four acres of land within the next seven days.

• Lalu out, Nitish in

Official sources in the state government said Thursday that a notice was issued to Rabri to vacate her official residence to make way for new Chief Minister Nitish Kumar.

Rabri along with her powerful husband and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav were living at 1 Anne Marg, for nearly one and half decade.

"The Lalu-Rabri couple with their nine children shifted to this palatial building directly from a small peon quarter," sources said.

When Lalu became chief minister for the first time on March 10, 1990, he along with his family lived in the 'chaprasi quarter' of his brother. Lalu's brother was a peon in a vetinary college in Patna.

Official sources said that Rabri Devi would now have to  vacate  the house which the couple has occupied even after ousted from the power in February 2005 following defeat in last assembly polls itself. But she and Lalu were not asked to vacate the house and was not disturbed by Governor Buta Singh during the President's rule.

Sources close to them said that her luggage has been shifted to another  neighbouring sprawling building, which was allotted to Lalu.

Rabri's cattle, including over 50 cows will also have to shifted to a new adjacent building, which shared boundary with 1 Anne Marg.

It was learnt that 1 Anne Marg was not notified as the official residence of the chief minister of Bihar, but it was regarded as best and suitable for the chief minister as it is situated in high security zone near Governor house.

Besides, before Lalu-Rabri's chief ministership, other former chief ministers including Bindeshwari Dubey and Bhagwat Jha Azad also lived there during their tenure.

The new chief minister after taking oath Thursday was temporarily living in the state guest house, situated near 1 Anne Marg. Officials said arrangements were made for Nitish in the state guest house till he will shift to his official residence.