Minister of Building Construction Department Maheshwar Hazari is confident that Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Tejashwi Yadav will abide by the Patna High Court's orders and vacate the official residence which he was accorded during his term as Bihar's deputy chief minister.
Speaking to ANI, Hazari said: "During the 'Mahagathbandhan' government, the bungalow was allotted to Tejashwi ji. When the NDA government was elected to power, it was decided to reserve it for Deputy Chief Ministers only. The matter then went to court, which directed him (Tejashwi) to vacate it. My department has also written to the district administration to oversee the eviction lawfully. I believe he will respect the law and vacate it."
Additionally, Hazari confirmed that his department quashed RJD supremo Lalu Yadav's elder son Tej Pratap Yadav's appeal for the provision of government accommodation, which he was given while he served as the Health Minister in the state government.
Hazari said, "We thought about it, but according to law, we can only give residences to ministers of the Central pool, MLAs have to appeal to the Assembly Speaker for a residence. He should appeal there."
The Patna High Court on October 6 rejected Tejashwi's appeal against the Chief Minister Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government's plea to evict Tejashwi from his official residence at 5, Deshratna Marg.
The department has written to the Patna District Magistrate to oversee leader Tejashwi's eviction from the government bungalow in the state capital in a lawful manner.
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When asked about the measures the government will resort to in case Tejashwi resists the order, Hazari said it will be "extremely unfortunate" if a person who preaches law and justice does not stand by his own words.
"I have total belief that he will not neglect his responsibilities towards the public and the law, and vacate the bungalow himself," Hazari said.
He also confirmed that the bungalow has been reassigned to current Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Modi. He add that the bungalow "has been assigned to the position of the deputy chief minister" instead of an individual.
"So in the future, when a new government is formed, the bungalow will be reserved for the deputy chief minister," Hazari said.