Brand Bihar has lots of equity but unfortunately its all negative. The brand image of a place is created by it's people and their representatives. I think in this information age the later play a vital role in projecting a particular brand image as their day to day life is comprehensively covered by the media.
In case of brand Bihar it is the irreprresible Lalu Prasad Yadav who has been acting as it's self- appointed "Silver Bullet" ( term coined by Regis McKenna, is a subbrand that is employed as a vehicle for changing or supporting the brand image of a parent brand) for the past two decades.
This loud mouthed Bihari is undoubtedly one of the most popular politicians in India and has won masses with his rustic charms. But in the process of gaining political mileage he has created a brand image of Bihar which subjects a common Bihari to lots of ridicules and mockeries in many circles. So Lalu has become a stereotype for Biharis.
The brand Bihar took further beating when Lalu name surfaced in the famous Fodder Scam and his subsequent imprisonment for the same. To keep the reigns of Bihar within his family he transffered the chair to his wife Rabri Devi. If Lalu was a silver bullet for brand Bihar his wife proved to be a "Platinum Bullet"( coined by me :)). She took the Bihar's brand image to its nadir.
Although Lalu's stint as union railway minister has done some good to his as well as Bihar's brand image but it is minuscule going by the size of the damge already done. Although it did turn around the image and fortunes of Indian Railways.
Circa 2005, Nitish Kumar is sworn in as the chief minister of Bihar bringing to an end the 15 long years of Lalu Raj. A man of few words he set himself at the task of undoing things his predecessors has done in 15 years of misrule. Now into the fourth year in office one can see the change brought about by the Nitish government. I agree tht going by the size of industrial investments it is nowhere near the leading states of India. I agree that Bihar is still awaiting its first IT company and software park. But one can sense the change in the air. One can say that Bihar has been put on the right track of development.
Coming to the brand image it is more or less same with a negative brand equity. I think it will take another couple of years to bring the brand equity at zero level. And another assembly term for Nitish to make it substantially positive.
So whats the basic difference in the leadership qualities of Lalu and Nitish. I would say for so long you have judged Bihar based on Lalu's personality traits and his image but to judge Nitish you have to see Bihar and the progress it has started to make. Because for this man silence speaks louder than words.
