Yadav clan to attend Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony

LUCKNOW: It will be a one big happy Yadav family that troops in to congratulate Narendra Modi upon being sworn in as prime minister on Monday. Though chief minister Akhilesh Yadav had already confirmed his presence in the swearing in ceremony on Saturday, Samajwadi Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav also left for New Delhi on Sunday. Party sources confirmed he will be at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Monday too, to participate in Modi's swearing in.

Setting aside speculations that the Yadavs may choose to stay away because of the poll drubbing they received - they could only retain five of the 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP - the SP presence will now, in fact, be the strongest family presence at a swearing in, yet. The Yadav clan will be represented by SP chief Mulayam, son Akhilesh, invited in his capacity as chief minister of UP, daughter-in-law Dimple, nephews Dharmendra and Akshay, MPs from Badaun and Firozabad respectively and Ram Gopal Yadav, SP think tank and Rajya Sabha MP.

Mulayam's confirmation of attendance comes amid murmurs that Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati, despite being in New Delhi, will not attend the grand swearing in ceremony. The SP chief, though, is known to rise above petty political differences and follow courtesies. Overlooking Modi's 'baap-beta' barbs from the campaign days, he will, therefore, remain present not only to put up a brave front following the elections results, but also for a Yadav show of strength in the face of their worst political performance in history.

While Mulayam has already reached New Delhi on Sunday, Akhilesh and Dimple are scheduled to fly to the national capital on Monday morning. Ram Gopal, Akshay and Dharmendra reside in New Delhi and will attend the function from there.