Nitish's two houses

Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar occupying two sprawling, colonial-era government bungalows in the heart of Patna has sparked a war of words among politicians in the state. His former deputy and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sushil Kumar Modi says it is like a person taking a salary and a pension. "If an MLA loses his seat, he gets a pension. But if he is re-elected, he gets only a salary; not the pension," said Modi. In his defence, Kumar has pointed to the rule book. According to the rules, a former CM in the state is entitled to a bungalow, and the current chief minister is assigned 1 Aney Marg. While Kumar carries out official work from the official residence, he lives at 7 Circular Road. "I can work even from the road," he said. "I don't mind if BJP gives me a room in their office. I will ask (Sushil) Modiji if he will rent me his house." Modi has a house in Patna.