Lalu Yadav and Narendra Modi on the same side of an argument is a rare happening. But the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief has come out in support of Gujarat Chief Minister's decision to make voting compulsory in local elections.

Lalu has said that voting percentages are declining across the board and so voting should be made compulsory in Parliamentary elections too.

"The vote percentage is slipping and this is a matter of concern. It should be made mandatory," he said on Monday.

The Modi government has passed a Bill that makes voting mandatory in local body elections.

According to the Gujarat Local Authorities Law (Amendment) Bill 2009 passed by the Gujarat Assembly, registered voters who do not participate in local elections will have a month to explain their absence; they may face action thereafter.