Patna: After weeks of political tussle between the RJD and the state govt, the giant lantern at 10, Circular Road, the official bungalow of former chief minister Rabri Devi for nearly two decades, was removed on Tuesday. The lantern, the RJD’s election symbol, had long been associated with the party’s political power centre. Its removal suggests Rabri and her family may soon vacate the residence. Rabri moved into the bungalow in 2006.The disappearance of the lantern from the main gate surprised visitors and fuelled speculation. RJD state spokesperson Chitranjan Gagan said, “Yes, the lantern has vanished from the gate but the people’s faith Lalu-Rabri still remains.” He added that party workers had long regarded the bungalow as their “temple”, saying, “Lekin we log jahan rahenge, wahi mandir ban jayega (But wherever those people live, that will become a temple).”Recalling the bungalow’s political significance, Gagan said it had witnessed several major developments over the past two decades. “It was at this bungalow that Lalu’s sons began their active political career and became the ministers — his younger son Tejashwi Prasad Yadav becoming the Dy CM twice. His daughter Misa Bharti became both the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha member too. But what was more important was that the RJD also got the status of a national party here at this place once before losing it,” he said.According to Gagan, the residence remained a political power centre whether the RJD was in power or in the opposition. He claimed several prominent politicians, including Rahul Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee and M K Stalin, visited the bungalow and said it played an important role in the formation of the INDIA bloc.The bungalow also witnessed difficult phases for the family, including Lalu Prasad’s conviction in the fodder scam, Tej Pratap Yadav’s marital dispute and his later expulsion from the RJD, as well as reports of differences within the family after the Nov 2025 Bihar assembly election.Meanwhile, Rabri has written to the building construction department seeking details of the inventory provided when the bungalow was allotted. An RJD social media post said the information was required to avoid disputes over govt property before the residence is vacated. Rabri has already shifted household belongings to her Kautilya Nagar residence, which is nearing completion, and her son’s official bungalow at 1, Polo Road.
