PATNA: What's it about roads and the Lalus? Yesterday it was Lalu and Hema Malini's cheeks, today it is his younger son and endless number of marriage proposals, 44,000 at last count. This certainly isn't about the road less taken.
Deputy chief minister Tejashwi Yadav (26), also the road construction department minister, had issued a Whatsapp number in June urging people to send their complaints regarding roads. Four months later, the department has received 47,000 messages, 44,000 of them from young girls heaping praise on Tejashwi and wishing to marry him.
The department introduced the WhatsApp number (9470001346) on June 29. The idea was to encourage residents to report about damaged roads, even send pictures of roads with their comments.
"Initially, we received lots of complaints related to bad roads," said an executive engineer who monitors the WhatsApp messages during his shift. "But soon the number seemed to have turned into a forum for girls to send personal messages addressed to Tejashwi. As per latest figure we have received 47,000 messages out of which 44,000 were marriage proposals."
He added that people possibly thought the number was Tejashwi's personal one.
Should Tejashwi's parents take the proposals seriously, they would have quite a choice. It is not just girls from Bihar, many have sent messages from Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra, Gujarat and a few other states.
Many have mentioned their age, gotra and complexion, besides sending their photographs.
A girl from Patna wrote: "In gotra I am superior, however I'm ready to marry you. I've finished my schooling from St. Joseph's School and am eager to continue my career in politics along with you."
Another girl, who claimed to be from Lady Shri Ram College, Delhi, wrote: "I'll get married to you only." Yet another girl from Aurangabad wrote: "I'm full of praise for your smile and leadership, I want to marry you."
Tejashwi appeared shy when confronted about the proposals. "Ever since, I am born I have been getting love and affection from the people," he said. "It is nice that people are appreciating my work." Pressed further about the proposals, he said: "I do not personally manage the WhatsApp number. There is dedicated team. The number is for grievances related to roads but it seems people are sending unnecessary messages."
Father Lalu - who had promised to make Bihar's roads as smooth as actress Hema Malini's cheeks when he was chief minister - was more forthcoming. " Ladki agar achchi ho to jaat koi mudda nahi hai mere liye, shaadi kar denge Tejashwi ki (If the girl is good enough, caste is not an issue. I will get Tejashwi married," he said at his 10 Circular Road residence.
But that might take some time. In Bihar's hinterland it is an unwritten rule that the elder son or daughter marries first. So Tejashwi might have to wait till elder brother Tej Pratap, also a minister, ties the knot.