Raje's austerity measures to give competition to AAP govt

Delhi's Aam Aadmi Party government's roadside public hearings, austerity drive and brushing aside VIP culture has some serious competition coming from neighbouring Rajasthan's Vasundhara Raje government.

After deciding to cut down her security detail by half, not moving to the designated chief minister's house and stopping at traffic lights, Vasundhara Raje now wants ministers and officials to go down the same route. District collectors, SPs and ministers have been directed accordingly at the Collectors and SPs conference in Jaipur.

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State Health Minister Rajendra Singh Rathore said, "Definitely these are the times of the 'aam aadmi' and he has contributed in a big way in getting the Rajasthan government such a huge majority which is why it's an 'aam aadmi' government."

The officials have been asked not to use police escort, not to keep a second official car, not to use the services of office staff, cooks etc at their homes and stay away from hosting meals at five star hotels at government expense.

Most importantly ministers are asked to listen to the 'aam aadmi' and redress their issues on priority. Not just officials but two Cabinet ministers have been directed to hold public hearing at the BJP office on a daily basis.

Even though the BJP government is working on the lines of AAP, it has dismissed the charge that it is under any pressure following AAP's success in Delhi.

State Food and Civil Supplies Minister Hem Singh Bhadana, who took oath two weeks before AAP formed government in Delhi, said, "AAP is following us and it is not the other way round."

The AAP effect on the Vasundhara government is only obvious in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections but the aam aadmi is asking is if this is just a seasonal symbolism or is the government genuinely looking to cleanse the system.