Former foes turned allies, Samajwadi chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal head Lalu Yadav formalised familial ties on Tuesday, as Mulayam’s grandnephew exchanged rings with Lalu’s daughter in a private ceremony in the capital.
The grand ceremony was also indicative of a new political narrative emerging in the Hindi heartland, especially Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, with former allies of the ‘Janata Parivar’ coming together to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Janata Dal (United) leaders Nitish Kumar and Sharad Yadav — apart from Bihar chief minister Jitan Ram Manjhi —were among the select group of people who attended the engagement function between Tej Pratap Yadav and Lalu’s daughter, Raj Lakshmi. It was held in RJD Rajya Sabha member Prem Chand Gupta’s farmhouse in Mehrauli.
They have now set the wedding date has been set for February 26.
Lalu and Mulayam had previously had a very bitter relationship. Initially, Lalu had approached the SP chief with the proposal that their oldest children marry, but was turned down. Meanwhile, Mulayam blamed Lalu for opposing his elevation to the post of PM.
{{/usCountry}}Lalu and Mulayam had previously had a very bitter relationship. Initially, Lalu had approached the SP chief with the proposal that their oldest children marry, but was turned down. Meanwhile, Mulayam blamed Lalu for opposing his elevation to the post of PM.
{{/usCountry}}“That phase of acrimony between them is over,” a senior RJD leader said.