Three-time Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav passed away at a private Gurugram hospital on Monday after a prolonged illness. He was 82.In a tweet, Samajwadi Party confirmed the demise of the veteran politician quoting SP chief Akhilesh Yadav as saying, “My father and everyone’s dear Neta ji is no more.”
Mulayam Singh dominated the national politics in the post-Mandal era by galvanising formidable OBC-Muslim combine in the state, which usually decides the fate of the national government.Yadav, who began as a wrestler – switched over to school teaching before taking a final plunge into politics. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly in Uttar Pradesh eight times from 1967 to 1996. He was also elected to Lok Sabha seven times since 1996, as he continues to be the member of the lower house.
