Samajwadi Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav sharing a slice of birthday cake with party leader Amar Singh. Photo: PTISaifai (Uttar Pradesh): Music composer-singer AR Rahman performed at the Saifai ground on the eve of the 76th birthday of Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav. Singer Hariharan also joined the Oscar-winning composer later on.
However, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Chief Lalu Yadav was not present during the event.
With rumour doing the rounds that Lalu Yadav skipped the programme in the wake of Mulayam Singh not attending the swearing-in ceremony of Nitish Kumar, Samajwadi Party leaders including Mulayam Singh's daughter-in-law Dimple Yadav played down the issue.
However, it was not known whether Lalu Yadav will attend the function.
A 76-kg cake has been ordered for Mulayam Singh's birthday today. Italian, Chinese and Thai dishes will be prepared by renowned chefs from Delhi and Mumbai for around one lakh guests.
The guest list includes former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda, Lalu Yadav, Bollywood actors Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan and business tycoons.
The three-day celebrations began on Friday at Saifai, around 200km from state capital Lucknow.
Mulayam Singh Yadav cutting the huge cake on the eve of his birthday on November 22.
The indoor athletic stadium, where the main function will be held, has been decorated in the colours of Samajwadi Party's symbol- green and red.
Hundreds of welcome gates and huge hoardings have been put up on all the roads leading to Saifai.
Around 3,000 staff have been tasked with ensuring cleanliness while an equal number of security personnel from 15 districts have been deployed in and around the venue.
(With agency inputs)
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