As Tejashwi sets off on statewide yatra, workers told to put RJD’s iconic green gamcha aside

Significantly, the directive comes at a time when Leader of Opposition and party scion Tejashwi Yadav is gearing up to embark on his ‘Karyakarta Samvad Karyakram’, a statewide tour to interact with party workers, from Tuesday.

The green gamcha has been the signature style of the RJD, which was founded in July 1997. While campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections this year, Tejashwi was seen wearing the green scarf like a muretha — the pagdi-like headgear that’s wrapped around the head.

Although no reasons were cited for the party’s decision in the letter, RJD sources claimed that the party was looking to reinvent its image as a progressive party and the use of the gamcha, particularly as a muretha, didn’t align with those ideals.

“The muretha often looked retrogressive and aggressive and was meant to symbolise the Yadav aggression. As the muretha isn’t gelling with our ideas of progressive reforms and governance models, the party decided to shed it,” one source said.

In his 14-point directive, RJD state president Jagdanand Singh also asked party workers to not use hoardings, posters and welcome arches to greet Tejashwi and to not discuss candidates for the next year’s assembly polls with him.

“Instead of carrying green gamchha, try to use green cap and matching badge to such programmes,” the letter said, also asking workers to “maintain discipline” while taking photographs of the Leader of Opposition or posing for selfies with him.

The first phase of the yatra is scheduled to begin from Samastipur and Ujiarpur parliamentary seats and will continue until September 17, covering districts such as Darbhanga, Madhubani and Muzaffarpur.

Through the tour, Tejashwi plans to cover the entire state in various phases that will extend until the first quarters of 2025, with the leader holding interactions with workers right down to the block levels.