Patna: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav has thought up a unique way to cash in on his popularity making it mandatory for party leaders to hand over a minimum of Rs 1.21 lakh towards the party fund for organising his programmes.

Besides donating a minimum of Rs 1.21 lakh in cash, the RJD chief has also decided not to accept more than five garlands from party supporters, the others would have to pay in cash an amount equal to the value of a garland.

"Since RJD is a party of the poor, I have decided to raise funds in this way for meeting the expenses of the next Lok Sabha polls," Laloo said on October 19.

Instead of spending money on garlanding me, party workers should donate money for strengthening RJD's financial base, he said.

"RJD does not have the support of any industrial house or big businessmen, we have to depend on our own workers and supporters to raise money for contesting polls," he said.

Hailing Yadav's innovative idea for fund raising, newly elected RJD Bihar president Abdul Bari Siddiqui said that all district party presidents had been informed about the new conditions for organising programmes of the RJD supremo.

The RJD supremo would begin a round of all 38 districts of the state after completion of "Chhath", a religious festival very popular in the state, in October end, Siddiqui, also a minister in Rabri Devi Cabinet, said.

PTI