The Bihar BJP has objected to RJD chief Lalu Prasad being invited to the state government programme to mark the centenary year celebrations of Champaran Satyagraha in Patna on Monday.

Lalu Prasad, along with President Pranab Mukherjee, Governor Ram Nath Kovind, chief minister Nitish Kumar, Union home minister Rajnath Singh and Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi will share the dais at the felicitation ceremony of all-India freedom fighters.

BJP MLA from Bankipore Nitin Navin on Sunday said: "Lalu Prasad has been convicted in the fodder scam. His presence on the dais, which dignitaries such as the President, home minister, the governor and the chief minister will share, will be a humiliation to guests and freedom fighters."

According to the itinerary the education department - the nodal agency looking after the function - has prepared, Lalu will be among guests who will also speak on the occasion. He will speak after chief minister Nitish Kumar, followed by other guests such as Rahul Gandhi, Rajnath Singh and Governor Ram Nath Kovind. The President's address will be the last.

Nitin Navin said: "Inviting Lalu on the dais proves that the chief minister is afraid of Lalu, a fodder scam convict, and is hugely dependent on him for survival of his government."

The BJP MLA added that inviting Lalu to such a big function exposes Nitish's duplicity in his fight against corruption.

Nitish, who was mum over BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi allegations on dubious land deals of the RJD chief, on Saturday broke his silence: " Jyada bolne par gala kharab ho jata hain (Speaking too much makes one's throat sore).

However, education minister Ashok Choudhary, reacting to BJP's allegations, said leaders from all political parties have been invited and there was nothing wrong in inviting Lalu ji.

Choudhary said: "Lalu ji is the RJD chief. We are inviting him as he is leader of the state's biggest political party. Those who are raising the issue have no work."

During Prakash Utsav, the 350th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Govind Singh held at Gandhi Maidan on January 5, VIPs, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Nitish Kumar and the governor, were given seats on the dais. Though Lalu attended the function, he was asked to sit on the ground amid the audience along with sons. The RJD at that time had indirectly attacked the Nitish Kumar government for humiliation of their party leader.

Sources said after the Prakash Utsav function, there were reports about differences cropping up among the Grand Alliance constituents.

Offering the dais to Lalu is being construed as Nitish's attempt to keep the Grand Alliance intact.