PM attends big fat Yadav pre-wedding ceremony

Prime Minister Narendra Modi and a host of senior leaders from different political parties on Saturday attended the pre-wedding ceremony of Samajwadi Party (SP) supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav's grandnephew Tej Pratap Yadav at the Yadavs' village of Saifai.

Tej Pratap's marriage has been fixed with Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad's youngest daughter Raj Luxmi. The wedding will take place on February 26 in Delhi.

A beaming Lalu said at the event: “I am happy that my daughter’s marriage is a much-talked-about affair in the entire country. Mulayam has not demanded a single paisa (dowry), as our hearts have met.”

Mainpuri MP Tej Pratap said no politics should be seen in the prime minister’s visit.
Modi, who reached at 10:45 am along with Uttar Pradesh Governor Ram Naik, was received by Lalu and Mulayam at the venue.

Both leaders have been critical of Modi, but the trio happily posed for pictures at the event, shaking hands for shutterbugs to capture the moment.

Leaders of the “Janata Parivar”, controversial Bharatiya Janata Party MP Sakshi Maharaj and expelled Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh and actor Amitabh Bachchan were among those present.

An estimated 1.25 lakh people attended the grand ceremony at Saifai, amid unprecedented security arrangements.