Narendra Modi in Patna: PM to share dais with Nitish Kumar and Lalu Yadav on Prakash Parv

On the occasion of Prakash Parv — the 350th birth anniversary of Guru Gobind Singh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be in Patna on Thursday to participate in a function that will see him share a stage with rivals Lalu Prasad Yadav and the Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar.

पीएम श्री नरेन्द्र मोदी 5 जनवरी 2016 को पटना में श्री गुरु गोबिंद सिंह जी महाराज के 350 वें प्रकाशोत्सव पर्व समारोह को संबोधित करेंगे। pic.twitter.com/u6dCCe5kCv

— BJP (@BJP4India) January 4, 2017

According to ANI , apart from the programmes at Gandhi Maidan in Patna — where a makeshift Gurudwara has been set up, he will be releasing special commemorative stamps to mark the occasion.

What will be most interesting is the visual of Modi on a stage with two men against whom he waged and lost a bitter campaign (Bihar Assembly election of 2015). However, what is equally intriguing is the fact that Nitish and Lalu, whose parties (RJD and JDU respectively) form the government in Bihar are on opposite sides of the spectrum when it comes to demonetisation.

While Nitish has praised Modi’s initiative to do away with Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes, Lalu has been outspoken in his criticism of the move .

Given the significance of Thursday’s function at Bihar’s Gandhi Maidan, it is unlikely that any negative vibes will be exchanged onstage. However, keep watching this space for post-Prakash Parv sparks flying, particularly in light of the upcoming Assembly elections over the course of February and March.

Expected to be in attendance on Thursday are Union ministers Ravi Shankar Prasad and Ram Vilas Paswan, Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal and more.