Prime Minister Narendra Modi with RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav in Saifai (ANI photo)
Saifai, the native village of Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, today delivered one of the biggest photo-ops as Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended the pre-wedding ceremony of his grandnephew and parliamentarian Tej Pratap Yadav who is marrying Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's youngest daughter.
Mulayam and Lalu have been bitter critics of PM Modi and had even launched an agitation against his government in December last year. But all that was forgotten as the arch rivals smiled, shook hands, chatted and sat together. The Prime Minister and the SP chief, in fact, held hands as the latter led him onto a grand stage erected for the 'Tilak' function.
"We are happy and honoured to have the PM as our guest but we oppose his ideology," the groom, Tej Pratap Yadav, had earlier said.
Several VVIPs including Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu are also expected to attend today's event. Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan was among the big names present.
Over a lakh people are expected to attend the function.
Around 2,000 policemen and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in the village for security and ensuring smooth traffic movement.
"Everyone is talking about this match. Mulayam Singhji didn't ask for even one paisa from us - when hearts meet, money has no place," an ecstatic Lalu Prasad said.
Reacting to criticism over the extravagant affair, Tej Pratap had earlier said, "Too much money has not been spent." When asked about allegations that the Samajwadi Party had betrayed their ideologue Ram Manohar Lohia's socialist ideology, the groom said, "Those days are gone when people could go around the constituency on a cycle".