Mulayam Singh Yadav, the founder of the Samajwadi Party and three-time chief minister of Uttar Pradesh died on Monday at Gurugram’s Medanta Hospital. He was 82 years old.

The Samajwadi Party founder was at the hospital from August 22 and was shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on October 2. 

His death was confirmed by his son Akhilesh Yadav, who is currently the chief of the SP. Akhilesh Yadav was chief minister of Uttar Pradesh like his father, serving the role between 2012 and 2017. Known as ‘Netaji’ amongst party workers and followers, Mulayam Singh was born in the Saifai village in the Etawah district of Uttar Pradesh.

Mulayam Singh Yadav was married twice. His first wife was Malti Devi, who gave birth to his only son, Akhilesh Yadav in 1974. 

Due to complications during childbirth, Malti Devi lapsed into a vegetative state that year, and remained in that condition until her death in 2003. 

Also Read | Who was Mulayam Singh Yadav?

Mulayam Singh met Sadhana Gupta in some time in 1990s, while he was still married to Malti Devi. The relationship only became public in 2007 after an inquiry by the Supreme Court into the assets owned by the politician.

Sadhna Gupta had a son from her previous marriage, Prateek Yadav. Sadhna passed away merely months before Mulayam Singh. Sadhana Gupta died in July 2022, while the founder of the SP passed away on October 10, 2022. 

At the time of his death, Mulayam Singh Yadav’s total net worth was reported to be Rs 20.56 crore, according to a report from Asianet, citing figures from 2019. 

Also Read | Who is Akhilesh Yadav?

The former UP chief Minister had a large family of four brothers and a sister. Many members of his family, including his son Akhilesh Yadav, his nephew Dharmendra Yadav and his youngest brother Shivpal Singh Yadav have all entered politics in UP under the Samajwadi Party banner.