What's in a name, they say. A lot, if it's in Bihar.
A serious RJD is formulating a new rule to clamp down on office-bearers using nameplates on their vehicles, considered the first step towards an image-building exercise.
Direct instructions from RJD chief Lalu Prasad have propelled the idea, which restricts the use of vehicle nameplates to only a few posts. The maverick politician is of the opinion that using personalised nameplates gives a bad impression to the public.
Recently, the RJD held organisational polls after dissolving all its 522 posts except those of Ram Chandra Purbey and Lalu Prasad as the party state unit president and national president respectively.
The RJD will soon announce the names of new office-bearers, including members of the parliamentary committee, and also the nameplate diktat.
"Lalu ji has specifically asked that the habit of office-bearers putting nameplates on vehicles be discontinued. We have been told to frame a new rule and not to allow every office-bearer to use nameplates. At present, even the block head and panchayat head of the party use nameplates on vehicles. However, coming to power after a decade's gap, the party cannot afford doing such a thing told The Telegraph on the condition of anonymity
"The main reason behind restricting leaders from using name plates is again status symbol. RJD has emerged as the single largest party in the Assembly and there are people who may misuse the mandate by using such tactics. This could automatically malign the name of the party. Lalu ji is more cautious about such things now because both his sons are ministers and he cannot afford people raising fingers at the RJD," said another senior RJD leader.
Even on the day of the RJD national council meeting and open debate, Lalu had touched upon the new move by saying that senior leaders should think of curbing the practice of office-bearers affixing nameplates on vehicles. However, he did not explain the whole thing. The RJD, in all likelihood, would allow nameplates not below the secretary-level post. However, it would interesting to see when things unfold next week.<>
Ever since the RJD, along with the JDU, has formed the government, Lalu has become very cautious about the image of his party. The other reason of Lalu's becoming image-conscious is the fact that Nitish is known for his clean image and personality, so Lalu could go to any extent to follow suit.
