Wednesday, December 21 2005 17:17 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Patna: Former Bihar Chief Minister Rabri Devi may shift to her new official bungalow after 'kharmas', considered to be inauspicious period, with the Nitish Kumar government taking a lenient view of the issue though the deadline set in the eviction notice served on her expired yesterday (Dec 21, 2005).

"If Rabriji responds through a petition (seeking to shift to the new house after January 14), the matter will be decided by the chief minister himself", state Building Construction department minister Monazir Hasan told reporters, when approached for his comment on the fate of the eviction notice.

The newly allotted bungalow to the former chief minister is still incomplete. The main gates have been put up but the plaster is still soft; engineers engaged in the work said.

Though the height of the boundary wall has been raised in keeping with suggestions received from the special branch, the wall requires a fresh coat of paint, they said.

A close aide of Rabri Devi, now opposition leader in the state assembly and staying at the one Anne Marg official house of the chief minister, said if the government would hand over the key of the 10, Circular Road bungalow, allotted to madam, "we will make an official request to allow her to stay at one Anne Marg for some more time in view of 'kharmas' which ends on January 14.

He said false ceilings too were in dilapidated condition, the tiles on the floors were broken and only cement patch work has been done. "These do not look nice. The engineers should fully furnish the house as mentioned in the letter of allotment before asking us to move in", he said.