Prateek Yadav, the younger son of the founder of the late Samajwadi Party and the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav, died at 38. News in UP and Samajwadi Party voters alike has been shocked by the news.
Prateek Yadav, one of the most powerful political families in Uttar Pradesh, though he stayed mostly out of active politics, had a relatively private life. His death has since been mourned with significant sadness by family, party workers and politicians from across the country.
Speakers on the platform, supporters of politicians and well-wishers reciprocated soon afterwards and lamented the loss of honour that would ultimately be his in virtue of those in power not even realising. His untimely death was mourned by Samajwadi Party senior officials and workers; there was a sense of tranquillity too, the latter says, even if Prateek Yadav came from a political background, of place.
Prateek Yadav is the son of Mulayam Singh Yadav and his second wife, Sadhana Gupta. Also, he is a stepbrother of former Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav. Although Akhilesh Yadav received his political patrimony from the Samajwadi Party, in private life Prateek himself became interested in his own business interests and seldom dealt with anyone in public life at all in his everyday life.
Unlike many in the Yadav family who entered electoral politics, Prateek Yadav led a low profile in public. But his connections with the powerful political family repeatedly lifted his profile. He mostly made appearances sporadically and only lightly at important family and political moments.
Cause of death unclear
The official family spokesperson has given no statements to date. Security procedures have also been tightened around the family home as party leaders and supporters, and relatives arrive to pay respect, it said. The Yadav family has been a major force in Uttar Pradesh politics for decades.
Mulayam Singh Yadav, better known as “Netaji,” was one of the most influential leaders in the state’s political history and the founder of the Samajwadi Party; that party will always be immortalised, and it is a great political power in the future of Uttar Pradesh. The death of Prateek Yadav has thus aroused an emotional response from not only relatives, but the thousands of party followers in the different regions of Uttar Pradesh.
Sensitivity from politicians of different parties extended their condolences and prayers of strength to the family in grief. It unfolded as grief spread across social media groups that were inundated with tribute messages and photographs to Prateek Yadav and words of solidarity in support of the Yadav family in times of emotional turmoil. And the tragic news could also be another emotional setback for the family in their lives. F
ans of the Samajwadi Party filled the street outside of their homes and party buildings, attempting to grieve for the dead and sympathise with the family. Prateek Yadav died at 38, leaving many stunned at a young age. His death, once again, only underlined the unpredictability of life and the emotional toll that sudden losses take on the major population of public families.
The family was likely to announce funeral arrangements shortly thereafter. Meanwhile, the condolences poured in from every side of the political divide as Uttar Pradesh mourns the untimely death of Prateek Yadav.
