Tracing The Socialist Patriarch’s Journey

Mulayam Singh Yadav, Samajwadi Party founder and former CM of Uttar Pradesh, took his last breath at Medanta Hospital, Gurugram, on Monday morning. He was 82. 

Fondly called 'Netaji' by his party leaders and members, Mulayam Singh Yadav presented a fair share of political ups and downs in his over five decades-long career.  

Born in Saifai village, Etawah district, Uttar Pradesh, Singh always portrayed himself as a people's leader. He fought for the backward caste issues and became the state's CM thrice, consecutively. He also served as a Defence Minister for the centre. 

Here's the timeline for his political career: 

1967: Singh entered UP Assembly for the first time from Ram Manohar Lohia's Sanyukt Socialist Party. 

1968: After joining hands with Chaudhary Charan Singh, he joined his party, Bharatiya Kranti Dal. Later, Sanyukt Socialist Party and Bharatiya Kranti Dal merged and were named Bharatiya Lok Dal. 

1975-77: After the emergency, Bharatiya Lok Dal got merged with Janata Dal. 

1977: Singh became UP's cabinet minister for the first time. 

1982-87: Singh became a member of the Legislative Council and was represented as the opposition's leader. 

1996: Served as a defence minister in GoI and commented for Lok Sabha elections from Mainpuri, UP, for the first time.

1998: He again became a Lok Sabha member from Sambhal, Uttar Pradesh.  

1999: He serves as an MP again from Sambhal.  

1980: He serves as Lokdal State President.  

1985-87: Represented as state president of Janata Dal. 

1989-91: Became Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh for the first time

1992: Established Samajwadi Party. 

1993-95: Served as the state's CM for the second consecutive time. After the formation of the Mandal Commission, Singh raised the OBC reservation from 15 per cent to 27 per cent. 

2003: Became CM for the third consecutive time. 

Singh married Sadhna Gupta after the death of his first wife. 

2004: He became a Member of Parliament from Mainpuri, UP. 

2007: Represented as Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly. 

2009: Becomes MP from Mainpuri again. 

2014: Becomes MP from Azamgarh and Mainpuri but resigns from Mainpuri. 

2016: Had family disputes with son Akhilesh Singh Yadav over Shivpal Singh. 

2017: Shivpal Singh splits from Samajwadi Party and forms his own party. 

2019: Mulayam Singh becomes MP from Mainpuri for the seventh time. 

10 October 2022: Singh died after a prolonged illness at Medanta Hospital, Gurugram.