The mortal remains of Samajwadi Party (SP) founder Mulayam Singh Yadav were moved to Mela Pandal from his house in Saifai on Tuesday where party workers, leaders and public will pay tribute to the three-time former chief minister.
People are thronging the ground to pay their last respect to the “dharti putra”. His last rites will be performed with full state honours.
The last rites of former defence minister will be held at 3 pm, with a number of leaders including Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to be in attendance.
The 82-year-old socialist leader passed away on Monday morning at a hospital in Gurugram hospital after prolonged illness. He had been hospitalised since August.
His body was brought to Saifai on Monday evening, where Adityanath paid tribute. The chief minister paid floral tribute on behalf of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel and the Uttar Pradesh government.
Rajnath Singh, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar Tejashhwi Yadav and NCP chief Sharad Pawar are among the prominent politicians who are likely to attend the funeral in Saifai today.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel and former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath will represent the Congress party at the funeral.
Among other leaders, Chief Ministers of Telangana KC Rao, Rajasthan’s Ashok Gehlot and Jharkhand’s Hemant Soren were also expected to attend the funeral.
Mulayam Singh had been a 10 time MLA and seven times MP. He was thrice the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state of India which sends maximum number of MPs to the Lok Sabha. He also served as a defence minister.