Patna, Feb. 21: The chief minister's official residence, 1 Aney Marg, is set to welcome one of its most beloved occupants, Nitish Kumar, who takes oath on Sunday.
There are rumours Nitish might continue to stay at 7 Circular Road and use 1 Aney Marg only for official purposes. Either way, he will be in for some surprise when he visits what was his address till a year ago.
A noticeable change is a shinning brass statue of Lord Buddha that has been removed from the new drawing room. Herbal plants and arrays of colourful flowers that added value to the lush gardens are not in the best of condition, like they used to be when Nitish would personally supervise their upkeep.
However, the two-leaf peepal tree (Ficus religiosa) Nitish planted on November 8, 2011, has spread several branches now. With Nitish's return there probable, staff and dwellers are scurrying to get everything back on track. "The procedure to meet Nitish ji is a highly regulated affair, done only through proper channel. The process was relaxed a bit during Manjhiji's tenure," said a security personnel at Gate number-1 of the premises.
The gardeners looking after plants usually come in around 8am and work till noon. Gardeners from Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park provide technical expertise and the state horticulture directorate the plants and vegetables. "Manjhi ji never took keen interest in the garden but Nitishji was very particular. We would now have to take extra care," said a gardener.
"Except for periodical maintenance and colouring work, no major construction work has taken place at 1 Aney Marg in the past nine months. As per practice, an overall cleaning and white-wash might be undertaken before the new occupant (Nitish) arrives," said a senior engineer in the central division of state building construction department.
Department sources said Manjhi could stay at 1 Aney Marg for two months or leave it immediately the way Nitish had, within a fortnight after passing the baton over to Manjhi last May. Nitish's predecessor Rabri Devi lived there well beyond the two months after Nitish became chief minister.
Manjhi has an option now - he has not yet vacated his Strand Road house, where he lived when he was a minister under Nitish. He could return there if he wishes to.
