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RIP Mulayam Singh Yadav: Here is a collection of photos from the Samajwadi Party founder's career

Samajwadi Party founder, strategist and trained wrestler, Mulayam Singh Yadav was a pivot for opposition politics for decades and a veteran of many a political battle in his home ‘akhara' Uttar Pradesh whose influence transcended boundaries of the state. The 82-year-old SP patriarch died on Monday at a Gurugram hospital. Here is a collection of photographs from his decades-long political career.
Samajwadi Party founder, strategist and trained wrestler, Mulayam Singh Yadav was a pivot for opposition politics for decades and a veteran of many a political battle in his home 'akhara' Uttar Pradesh whose influence transcended boundaries of the state.
Samajwadi Party founder, strategist and trained wrestler, Mulayam Singh Yadav was a pivot for opposition politics for decades and a veteran of many a political battle in his home 'akhara' Uttar Pradesh whose influence transcended boundaries of the state.
PTI
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Yadav, who founded the SP (its party symbol is the bicycle) in 1992 as the campaign for a Ram temple was peaking, was seen as a critical secular counterpoint to the rise of Hindutva politics in the Hindi heartland. (File Photo| PTI)
Yadav, who founded the SP (its party symbol is the bicycle) in 1992 as the campaign for a Ram temple was peaking, was seen as a critical secular counterpoint to the rise of Hindutva politics in the Hindi heartland. (File Photo| PTI)
Mulayam or 'Netaji' for his supporters was a doughty fighter who spawned Uttar Pradesh's most powerful political clan and never went off the radar - even when he was ailing. 'Netaji sansad mein hote hain ya sadak pe,' his supporters would say often, testifying to his connect with the people as well as his national profile. (File Photo| PTI)
Mulayam or 'Netaji' for his supporters was a doughty fighter who spawned Uttar Pradesh's most powerful political clan and never went off the radar - even when he was ailing. 'Netaji sansad mein hote hain ya sadak pe,' his supporters would say often, testifying to his connect with the people as well as his national profile. (File Photo| PTI)
Born on November 22, 1939 into a farming family in Saifai near Etawah in Uttar Pradesh, Yadav spawned the state's most prominent political clan. Mulayam Singh Yadav was elected MLA 10 times and MP, mostly from Mainpuri and Azamgarh, seven times. Yadav was also the defence minister (1996-98), and chief minister thrice (1989-91, 1993-95, and 2003-07). And briefly, he even appeared to have a shot at the prime minister's post. He founded the Samajwadi Party in 1992. (File Photo| PTI)
Born on November 22, 1939 into a farming family in Saifai near Etawah in Uttar Pradesh, Yadav spawned the state's most prominent political clan. Mulayam Singh Yadav was elected MLA 10 times and MP, mostly from Mainpuri and Azamgarh, seven times. Yadav was also the defence minister (1996-98), and chief minister thrice (1989-91, 1993-95, and 2003-07). And briefly, he even appeared to have a shot at the prime minister's post. He founded the Samajwadi Party in 1992. (File Photo| PTI)
For party workers, even when he was no longer the SP president as the mantle passed on to his son Akhilesh Yadav (in photo) in 2017, the patriarch remained 'Netaji'. (File Photo| PTI)
For party workers, even when he was no longer the SP president as the mantle passed on to his son Akhilesh Yadav (in photo) in 2017, the patriarch remained 'Netaji'. (File Photo| PTI)
A 'socialist', Yadav was open to possibilities in politics. Thanks often to mergers and splits, he had been affiliated with a series of parties -- Lohia's Sanyukt Socialist Party, Charan Singh's Bharatiya Kranti Dal, Bharatiya Lok Dal and Samajwadi Janata Party. (File Photo| PTI)
A 'socialist', Yadav was open to possibilities in politics. Thanks often to mergers and splits, he had been affiliated with a series of parties -- Lohia's Sanyukt Socialist Party, Charan Singh's Bharatiya Kranti Dal, Bharatiya Lok Dal and Samajwadi Janata Party. (File Photo| PTI)
In 2019, Netaji sprang a surprise by praising Narendra Modi (in photo) in Parliament, wishing that he would return as prime minister after the next election. This, when his party saw Modi's BJP as its main rival in UP. (File Photo| PTI)
In 2019, Netaji sprang a surprise by praising Narendra Modi (in photo) in Parliament, wishing that he would return as prime minister after the next election. This, when his party saw Modi's BJP as its main rival in UP. (File Photo| PTI)
Yadav, who took part in student union agitations and briefly taught at an inter college after getting a Political Science degree, first became an MLA in 1967. Nathu Singh, the Socialist Party MLA from Jaswantnagar, wanted him to fight for the seat in the next election. He was impressed with Yadav after meeting him at a wrestling contest. (File Photo| Express)
Yadav, who took part in student union agitations and briefly taught at an inter college after getting a Political Science degree, first became an MLA in 1967. Nathu Singh, the Socialist Party MLA from Jaswantnagar, wanted him to fight for the seat in the next election. He was impressed with Yadav after meeting him at a wrestling contest. (File Photo| Express)
In 2016, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh expelled his son, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, from the party for six years for “gross indiscipline” a day after the junior Yadav issued a parallel list of candidates for the Assembly polls. (File Photo| PTI)
In 2016, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh expelled his son, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, from the party for six years for “gross indiscipline” a day after the junior Yadav issued a parallel list of candidates for the Assembly polls. (File Photo| PTI)
In this June 27, 2005 file photo, then Chief Ministers of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamilnadu: Narendra Modi, Mulayam Singh Yadav, and J Jayalalithaa meet at the 51st National Development council meeting in New Delhi. (File Photo| PTI)
In this June 27, 2005 file photo, then Chief Ministers of Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Tamilnadu: Narendra Modi, Mulayam Singh Yadav, and J Jayalalithaa meet at the 51st National Development council meeting in New Delhi. (File Photo| PTI)
Mulayam Singh Yadav with Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati. In 1995, a group of SP workers allegedly attacked a guesthouse where Mayawati was holding a meeting with party MLAs. The BSP walked out of its alliance with SP, bringing down Mr Yadav's government. In 2019, she withdrew the case. (File Photo| PTI)
Mulayam Singh Yadav with Bahujan Samaj Party supremo Mayawati. In 1995, a group of SP workers allegedly attacked a guesthouse where Mayawati was holding a meeting with party MLAs. The BSP walked out of its alliance with SP, bringing down Mr Yadav's government. In 2019, she withdrew the case. (File Photo| PTI)
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his condolence letter for Mulayam said, 'He was a leader of high esteem who was respected by everybody irrespective of party lines. He was an Icon of the Socialist Movement and had been elected to the Uttar Pradesh State Assembly and to the Lok Sabha several times. He served as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and also Union Minister many times. He was a great Parliamentarian and a distinguished administrator who devoted his whole life to the service of the poor and other backward communities.' (File Photo| PTI)
Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his condolence letter for Mulayam said, 'He was a leader of high esteem who was respected by everybody irrespective of party lines. He was an Icon of the Socialist Movement and had been elected to the Uttar Pradesh State Assembly and to the Lok Sabha several times. He served as the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and also Union Minister many times. He was a great Parliamentarian and a distinguished administrator who devoted his whole life to the service of the poor and other backward communities.' (File Photo| PTI)
Mulayam Singh Yadav with current Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. (File Photo| PTI)
Mulayam Singh Yadav with current Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath. (File Photo| PTI)
In 1996, Mulayam Singh's name was floated for the post of Prime Minister when the United Front was about to form a government. Mulayam used to believe that fellow Yadavs - Sharad, Lalu (in photo), V P Singh and N Chandrababu Naidu foiled his bid for the top post. Former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's daughter Raj Lakshmi married Mulayam Singh Yadav's grandnephew Tej Pratap Singh. (File Photo| PTI)
In 1996, Mulayam Singh's name was floated for the post of Prime Minister when the United Front was about to form a government. Mulayam used to believe that fellow Yadavs - Sharad, Lalu (in photo), V P Singh and N Chandrababu Naidu foiled his bid for the top post. Former Bihar Chief Minister and RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav's daughter Raj Lakshmi married Mulayam Singh Yadav's grandnephew Tej Pratap Singh. (File Photo| PTI)
Mulayam with former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. (File Photo| PTI)
Mulayam with former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam. (File Photo| PTI)
Mulayam with former UP chief minister (current Defence Minister) Rajnath Singh. (File Photo| PTI)
Mulayam with former UP chief minister (current Defence Minister) Rajnath Singh. (File Photo| PTI)
Jaya Bachhan, former Karnataka Chief Minister S Bangarappa, Jayaprada, Amar Singh and Mulayam Singh at the State Office of the Samajwadi Party in Bangalore. File Photo | S Manjunath, EPS)
Jaya Bachhan, former Karnataka Chief Minister S Bangarappa, Jayaprada, Amar Singh and Mulayam Singh at the State Office of the Samajwadi Party in Bangalore. File Photo | S Manjunath, EPS)
31/08/2012: Samajwadi Party President Mulayam Singh Yadav with party MP Jaya Bachchan during the party's dharna with TDP and the Left front to demand restoration of normalcy in Parliament at Parliament house in New Delhi. (File Photo| PTI)
31/08/2012: Samajwadi Party President Mulayam Singh Yadav with party MP Jaya Bachchan during the party's dharna with TDP and the Left front to demand restoration of normalcy in Parliament at Parliament house in New Delhi. (File Photo| PTI)
15/04/2015: Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh with RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, JDS chief HD Devegowda, and JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar during a news conference to announce their merger in New Delhi. (File Photo| PTI)
15/04/2015: Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh with RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, JDS chief HD Devegowda, and JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav and Bihar CM Nitish Kumar during a news conference to announce their merger in New Delhi. (File Photo| PTI)
Mulayam with his long-time associate Amar Singh (on left). (File Photo| PTI)
Mulayam with his long-time associate Amar Singh (on left). (File Photo| PTI)
Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav with CPI-M General Secretary Prakash Karat, CPI leader S Sudhakar Reddy, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury, and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu during their Bharat bandh protest against FDI in multi-brand retail and fuel price hike at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. (File Photo| PTI)
Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav with CPI-M General Secretary Prakash Karat, CPI leader S Sudhakar Reddy, CPI-M leader Sitaram Yechury, and TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu during their Bharat bandh protest against FDI in multi-brand retail and fuel price hike at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. (File Photo| PTI)
19/07/2012: Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and LJP President Ramvilas Paswan along with other MPs of their parties after casting votes for the Presidential election in Parliament House (File Photo| PTI)
19/07/2012: Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and LJP President Ramvilas Paswan along with other MPs of their parties after casting votes for the Presidential election in Parliament House (File Photo| PTI)
In this Feb. 9, 2002 file photo, Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan is flanked by his wife Jaya Bachchan, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh at an election rally in Lucknow. (File Photo| PTI)
In this Feb. 9, 2002 file photo, Bollywood actor Amitabh Bachchan is flanked by his wife Jaya Bachchan, Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh at an election rally in Lucknow. (File Photo| PTI)
Mulayam's son Akhilesh became the party president in 2017 after a feud with uncle Shivpal Yadav (seen on right in photo). Shivpal then formed his own party - Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party Lohia (PSPL) - in 2018. (File Photo| PTI)
Mulayam's son Akhilesh became the party president in 2017 after a feud with uncle Shivpal Yadav (seen on right in photo). Shivpal then formed his own party - Pragatisheel Samajwadi Party Lohia (PSPL) - in 2018. (File Photo| PTI)
Mulayam with his daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav (married to Prateek). Aparna joined the BJP in January 2022 delivering a major blow to the Samajwadi Party ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections this year. (File Photo| PTI)
Mulayam with his daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav (married to Prateek). Aparna joined the BJP in January 2022 delivering a major blow to the Samajwadi Party ahead of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections this year. (File Photo| PTI)
As chief minister, the younger Yadav enjoyed popular support within the party as well and wrested it from his father at an SP convention. While the former wrestler's supporters cried foul, the son projected the takeover as a tough but necessary move. In the final years of his life, the ailing patriarch played a diminishing role in the affairs of the party that he had founded. (File Photo| PTI)
As chief minister, the younger Yadav enjoyed popular support within the party as well and wrested it from his father at an SP convention. While the former wrestler's supporters cried foul, the son projected the takeover as a tough but necessary move. In the final years of his life, the ailing patriarch played a diminishing role in the affairs of the party that he had founded. (File Photo| PTI)
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