RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Monday tried to end the row over the 5 Deshratna Marg bungalow, by giving up claim on it.

'We are not concerned about the bungalow thing anymore. Sushil Modi can stay in whichever bungalow he wants,' Lalu said on Monday before leaving his 10 Circular Road residence for Araria to take part in party MP Mohammad Taslimuddin's last rites.

After the Grand Alliance government in Bihar collapsed and the JDU formed a government with the BJP's help, the state building construction department had issued a notice regarding allotment of 13 bungalows to the BJP and one to an LJP minister. Lalu's son Tejashwi Prasad lost his official bungalow at 5 Deshratna Marg, which was allotted to his successor, deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi.

Tejashwi, who became leader of Opposition in the Assembly after the Grand Alliance government collapsed, wrote to chief minister Nitish Kumar, requesting him to allow him to retain the bungalow, but it was turned down. Building control department minister Maheshwar Hazari said no changes would be made in the allotment of bungalows.

Tejashwi has now been allotted the 1 Polo Road bungalow, in his capacity as Leader of Opposition in the Assembly. Minister Hazari had said that the 5 Deshratna Marg bungalow is set aside for the deputy chief minister and the 1 Polo Road bungalow for the Leader of the Opposition.

A few days ago, former chief minister and Hindustan Awam Morcha Secular president Jitan Ram Manjhi had supported Tejashwi in the bungalow row, saying the state government should not have made the bungalow an issue. He also said Tejashwi should have been allowed to stay on at the bungalow.

Asked about any deadline fixed by the department to vacate the bungalow, Hazari told The Telegraph: 'Since all are ministers and honourable lawmakers, no deadline as such is mentioned in the letters sent to all former ministers. They have been requested to vacate the bungalow as soon as possible. If they don't, action will be taken as per norms.'

Department sources said Tejashwi's weakness for the bungalow was evident from the fact that crores had been spent on its renovation with expensive tiles and wardrobe.

Tejashwi and his elder brother Tej Pratap (earlier allotted 3 Deshratna Marg) never stayed in the bungalows; they stayed with their parents at 10 Circular Road. The brothers used the official bungalows to meet their well wishers.

Reacting to the developme-nt, Sushil Modi said: 'Why does he (Tejashwi) require a bungalow? He has so many flats in Patna. Also, he is single and not married. Unmarried people should stay with their parents.'