A sea of green and white greeted Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad Yadav, members of his family and other RJD leaders, as his grand "Parivartan Rally (Rally for Change or Transformation) began in Bihar's state capital Patna on Wednesday afternoon.
Tousands of RJD supporters made a beeline for Patna's prominent Gandhi Maidan, which is dotted with RJD posters and flags, each hailing party chief Lalu.
Thousands of party workers, sporting green caps and holding green flags, have converged on the city from all parts of the state as also from the neighbouring state of Jharkhand.
Many of them came on the 13 trains that were specially booked by the RJD. The party paid the Railways Rs. 1.11 crore for this. All trains were reportedly packed to capacity when they reached Patna.
Lalu insisted that the RJD's show of strength has exposed Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, and predicted that the latter is enjoying his last few days in power.
Though the rally is aimed at ushering change in Bihar, Lalu's rivals claimed that it is being held toinstall his two sons, Tejpratap and Tejasvi, as his political heirs and in positions of prominence in the RJD.
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When asked to respond to this, Lalu said: "When they are my children, do you want to them to hold a Lotus (the BJP's symbol) or the Arrow (the symbol of the ruling Janata Dal- United)? It is natural that they will hold lanterns and canvas for the RJD."
The lantern is the RJD's political symbol.
Lalu's elder son Tejpratap runs an automobile business in Aurangabad. They younger one is a former cricketer who was once also part of the Delhi Daredevils IPL team.
Yadav's eldest daughter Misa Bharti told reporters at Gandhi Maidan yesterday that she too was interested in a political career.
To this, the RJD chief fondly commented that both daughters and sons had a right to enter politics.