Patna, March 30: JDU MLA Nitish Mishra - who belongs to the Jitan Ram Manjhi camp - today accused the state government of double standards when allotting houses to former chief ministers.

The provocation is a building construction department notice issued on March 23 to his father, former chief minister Jagannath Mishra, saying the 12 Bailey Road bungalow allotted to him is cancelled and he has now been allotted one on 41 Hardinge Road. Nitish Mishra said no such thing happened when Nitish Kumar was former chief minister.

The department had issued a notice on July 7, 2014, saying the 41 Hardinge Road bungalow, then occupied by MLC Sanjay Jha, had been allotted to JagannathMishra. Jagannath then wrote to chief minister's private secretary asking for all necessary facilities at 41 Hardinge Road. He sent a reminder on September 16.

On January 1, he wrote to the chief minister requesting to allot him his son's 12 Bailey Road bungalow as 41 Hardinge Road was not livable. The same day Nitish Mishra, too, requested Manjhi to allot his house to his father and arrange another one for him. The three-term MLA from Jhanjharpur and a former minister, said: "Then chief minister (Manjhi) issued a notification on February 18 to allot 12 Bailey Road bungalow to my father. On March 23, the present government cancelled it. No such thing was done when Nitish ji was former CM."?

The department's notifications were cancelled twice to ensure Nitish Kumar got the 7 Circular Road house. He was initially allotted the 7 Strand Road bungalow but the notification was cancelled.

Nitish Mishra alleged the rules were changed and Nitish Kumar ultimately allotted the 7 Circular Road residence earmarked for chief secretaries. Besides, he said Nitish Kumar stayed at 2-M Strand Road before moving to Circular Road and "a lot of money was spent on his temporary stay".

Nitish Mishra said: "I want to ask how it is alright to allot a house of choice to Nitish ji when he is former chief minister and illegal if same courtesy is extended to another former chief minister. A patron leader who has crossed the age of 80 has been insulted. Nitishji is intentionally discriminating and hitting below the belt. I will write to chief secretary and building construction department to ask for the basis." He even threatened to approach courts.

A building construction official said: "I don't want to get involved in a matter the chief minister's name is involved in. I sent the notice after instructions from the government."?

Jagannath Mishra resides at his permanent address on 113/70-B Post Office Road in Shastri Nagar. Food and consumer protection minister Shyam Rajak said: "Nitish is too young... I think he is not aware whatever has been done is according to rules."