1 Aney Marg: Chief minister's residence

7 Circular Road: Former chief minister Nitish Kumar's residence

Top government officials cited rules to end the controversy related to Nitish Kumar's right to retain two bungalows.

A senior official in the cabinet secretariat department said: "The cabinet had taken a decision a couple of years ago to provide well-furnished bungalow to all former chief ministers as long as they live. The 7 Circular Road residence was allotted to Nitish Kumar under this provision while he had quit the chief minister's post in 2014."

The rule not only talks about providing a well-furnished bungalow to former chief ministers but also ensuring free electricity, water and other facilities along with required staff.

Nitish quit as chief minister on May 17, 2014, and handed over the power to Jitan Ram Manjhi. Subsequently, Nitish moved to 7 Circular Road from 1 Aney Marg where Manjhi moved in. Once Nitish resumed charge in February 2015, he had to function as chief minister from his 7 Circular Road residence as Manjhi vacated 1 Aney Marg only in June-end and moved to 12M Strand Road bungalow.

Officials from the building construction department, which oversees allotment, facilities, repair and maintenance of government bungalows, said once 1 Aney Marg was vacated by Manjhi, it went to Nitish as only a serving chief minister could be its legitimate claimant.

A senior official of the department said: "Nitish started holding his janata durbar at 1 Aney Marg only from February 2016, and began discharging some official duties from March 21. On the other hand, the 7 Circular Road bungalow was allotted lifelong to Nitish as a former chief minister and he was legally entitled to occupy it, irrespective of his current position."

"Nitish's current status as a chief minister may change in future. He may go to the Centre or quit his post or lose election or even quit politics. But his status as a former chief minister will never change," he said.

The officials said it was a convention followed in several states, including the case of Union home minister Rajnath Singh. "Rajnath retains a government bungalow in Lucknow as a former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh," an official said.

Nitish on Sunday said the opposition was misrepresenting the facts to portray as if he was occupying two bungalows. "Almost in every state, there is a provision for a bungalow for a former chief minister," Nitish had added.