His father and Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh heads India’s largest political family. His wife Aparna is contesting the Assembly elections from Lucknow Cantonement.
However, Prateek Yadav, Mulayam’s son from his second wife Sadhna Gupta, prefers to stay strictly apolitical. While he stood beside his wife when she filed her nomination papers last week, Prateek is better known for his six pack body and his passion for business, fast cars, animals and music. An MBA from Leeds University, he scrupulously avoids politics and the media. He made an exception for The New Indian Express. Excerpts from a conversation with Namita Bajpai.
Aparna is pitted against a political heavyweight (Sitting MLA Rita Bahuguna Joshi). How is she faring?
She has matured quite a bit as a politician and has been working in her constituency since March. She has struck a pretty good rapport with her voters. What she has done in such a short period is much more than many people expected.
The past four months, dominated by the family feud, must have been stressful…
I have got my own issues. However, I don’t take stress. I have got this natural ability to not getting stressed, ever. When issues are good, they make you grow. Once you surpass an issue, it strengthens your fabric of nature. If you overcome a problem, it expands your sphere of influence. It is good to have problems.
You come from India’s biggest political family. Don’t you have your own political ambition?
I started business soon after completing my studies. In 2012, there was immense pressure on me to join the SP, but I did not budge.
Doesn’t Aparna ever insist that you join politics?
She never did so as she is well aware of my priorities. When people from Azamgarh wanted me to be a part of political mainstream, I made it amply clear not only to them but to the media as well that I don’t have any political ambition.
Will you be able to keep away from politics for long especially with Aparna taking a political plunge?
So far I have been able to do it successfully. I have gone so far in my business that it is not possible to leave it and look back.
How do you fight the pressure to join politics?
I give maximum credit to Anthony Robbins, one of the most prominent success coaches in the world. He says always do what you are passionate about.
What are your passions?
Fitness, business, working for stray animals. I am busy fulfilling all my passions. If I stop it and do something else, I will not be satisfied. I have set up a gym in Lucknow that is probably one of the best in India.