The AAP effect? Vasundhara Raje extends austerity drive to ministers, officials

Jaipur: Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje is taking the Aam Aadmi Party example very seriously. After having decided to shed the trappings of power herself, she has asked her ministerial colleagues and the state government officials to follow suit.

The "avoid lal batti culture'' is the recurring theme of the two-day conference of collectors and superintendent of police that began in Jaipur on Wednesday. She asked the ministers, who too are in attendance, and the bureaucrats to avoid holding government functions in five-star hotels and jettison their escort vehicles so as to be able to cut down on unnecessary expenses. The district collectors and SPs were called upon to avoid using official vehicles for private work. They were also asked to shed the practice of using government employees as personal helps, and give up security cover at their homes. (Also read: No lal battis or police escort cars decides Arvind Kejriwal's cabinet)

In her second stint as Rajasthan chief minister, Ms Raje, taking a cue from the AAP example, refused to move into the official bungalow, cut down her security shield by half, opted to use commercial flights, rather than the state government plane, for her long-distance travels and decided to stop at the traffic lights to avoid causing inconvenience to commuters. (The Arvind Kejriwal effect? Vasundhara Raje wants to be stopped at red lights)

The chief minister's office, however, has rubbished claims that her decisions had been influence by the AAP example, and insisted that she had taken a call on them soon after being voted back to power after a five-year gap on December 8. (Vasundhara Raje sworn-in as Rajasthan chief minister)