Samajwadi Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav died at 82

Mulayam Singh Yadav, the founder of the Samajwadi Party, died on Monday at the age of 82 after a prolonged illness.

The seasoned statesman, who had previously served as both India’s defence minister and Uttar Pradesh’s chief minister, was receiving treatment at Gurugram’s Medanta Hospital until he was moved last week to the intensive care unit. His son and SP leader Akhilesh Yadav was cited as stating, “My respected father has passed away,” in a party statement.

The final rituals will be performed in Saifai, Mulayam Singh Yadav’s ancestral hamlet in Uttar Pradesh, according to a statement from Akhilesh Yadav’s office.

The state of UP declares a three-day period of mourning for Mulayam Singh Yadav.