Patna. The bungalow at 10 Circular Road, situated in the heart of the capital of Bihar, is in the news these days. On November 25, former Chief Minister Rabri Devi received a notice to vacate the bungalow. This order issued by Nitish government has created a political stir in Bihar. Here Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) clearly said – we will not step down. But, it is not just about a bungalow. This bungalow is a symbol of the political roots of Lalu Prasad Yadav family. It is from here that the upheavals of power in Bihar were created and now its distance from Chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s residence at 1 Anne Marg has increased from 300 meters to 800 meters. Meaning a distance of 500 meters. Not only about roads, but also about political relationships.
10 Circular Road – An Address Nahi, Chapter of Bihar Politics
Actually, this bungalow is not an ordinary building. Since 2006, it has been the central residence of the Lalu family. This bungalow has become like the headquarters of RJD. Here political strategies were made, alliances were broken and political slogans were echoed. Now the new government formed after the results of the 2025 assembly elections has shown strictness. By order of the Building Construction Department, Rabri Devi, as the leader of the opposition in the Legislative Council, was allotted a bungalow at 39 Harding Road and was asked to vacate the old bungalow. Tejashwi Yadav will also have to change his residence. RJD state president Mangni Lal Mandal has called it ‘political vendetta’. He said, this is an act of revenge. Nitish Kumar is doing this at the behest of BJP.
Satta came after walking 300 meters, now what is the increased distance saying?
In August 2022, when Nitish Kumar reached Rabri Devi’s government residence at 10 Circular Road to meet her, Lalu Prasad’s two sons Tejashwi and Tej Pratap Yadav were present there. After this, when they went to Raj Bhavan and then returned from there, both these brothers and Sanjay Yadav were with CM Nitish.
Rabri Devi’s bungalow has seen the changing seasons of politics and power!
Even that day this bungalow was the center of political consultation. Lalu Prasad called Nitish Kumar and the alliance was finalized. Supporters gathered outside the bungalow. The activities of this bungalow, just 300 meters away, overthrew the government of Bihar. Nitish Kumar’s distance with NDA increased and he became closer to RJD. In 2022 Iftar, Nitish Kumar had said, we are like brothers. But now, the distance is increasing from 300 meters to 800 meters, so everything is changing with this.
Witness political signals and changing equations
Obviously this bungalow is like a mirror of Bihar politics. After the defeat of Lalu Yadav in the 2005 elections, 2006 saw bad times. In 2010, there was more mourning over Nitish Kumar’s victory and the lantern lights at the gate were extinguished. Then came the era of 2015 when the splendor returned and this bungalow at 10 Circular Road had the same charm and status as the Chief Minister’s residence. Then came 2017 and the tables turned and Nitish Kumar joined the NDA. Even then there was sadness in the walls of this bungalow. But, Tejashwi Yadav’s strategy took off from here and in 2020, he was also seen becoming an alternative to Nitish Kumar. After coming very close to the majority, he remained away from power, but his courage increased so much that in 2022 it did wonders again and Nitish Kumar reached this bungalow on foot and the stakes of power changed.
There was a sudden twist in the politics of Bihar in August 2022 and Nitish Kumar separated from the NDA and was elected the leader of the Grand Alliance in Bihar. At that time, due to the presence of Lalu Yadav, Rabri residence located at 10 Circular Road, Patna was the center of political turmoil.
Where steps wrote history, now distances are giving a new message!
The return of 2022 again brought glow to this bungalow. Lalu Yadav’s talks with journalists in the garden of the bungalow, tea parties in the lawn – everything was related to politics and all this was possible due to Nitish Kumar’s decision to reduce the distance to 300 meters. But the political scene changed again in 2025, because the Grand Alliance lost in the assembly elections. Nitish Kumar has strengthened NDA with BJP. Now the Bengali dispute is deepening and it is possible that this dispute can give a new direction to the politics of Bihar. The 300 meter distance between CM Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav is going to increase by 500 meters. The bungalow at 10 Circular Road may become vacant, but its story will remain in the history of Bihar. Where distance sometimes united, sometimes broke.
