RJD plans revamp to project itself as credible choice
The Rashtriya Janata Dal, brought to its knees after consecutive electoral debacles in Bihar, has framed an elaborate strategy to revitalise the organisation and project itself as the only credible alternative to the ruling NDA.
Party chief Lalu Prasad Yadav is also expected to play a keener role than before.
The party’s newfound zeal for revival was visible in its formation of a jumbo state executive committee of 161 office-bearers — including 21 vice-presidents, 66 general secretaries, 65 secretaries, six spokespersons — chosen with an obvious eye on caste equations and geographical balance.
Along with the announcement of the new committee on Friday, the Rashtriya Janata Dal displayed a new willingness to engage with Bihar’s masses.
A “shadow cabinet” mooted by the RJD would have its senior leaders assigned with specific departments like health, crime, education and agriculture to monitor the progress of the Nitish Kumar-led government’s implementation of schemes in those departments. “This Cabinet will regularly come up with detailed reports. The party’s action would be decided on the basis of these reports,” said RJD state president Ramchandra Purve to this newspaper.
Mr Lalu Prasad Yadav is likely to instruct the new office-bearers in a week about the shape of programmes to be undertaken to reconnect the party with the people. “We (RJD) will be less of a party doing brainstorming in drawing rooms from now. We will engage directly with the people to solve their problems,” said Mr Purve, who was made state president after the RJD’s rout in the 2010 Assembly polls.
The RJD has retained its core think tank intact in the latest reshuffle, which was approved by Mr Yadav before the formal announcement.
Rajya Sabha member Ramkripal Yadav remains the principal general secretary while Shakil Ahmed Khan continues as the chief spokesperson.
Despite its severely diminished numerical strength in the Bihar Assembly, the RJD has already made a powerful impact as the main Opposition party unlike in the previous Assembly in which Rabri Devi, a former chief minister and Lalu Yadav’s wife, was leader of the Opposition.
New Leader of the Opposition Abdul Bari Siddiqui’s pointed and analytical speeches in the last Assembly session had constantly embarrassed the government.
Post new comment