Mulayam Singh Yadav dies at 82: His life in pictures

Former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav passed away early on Monday, October 10. (Photo: India Today)

Yadav was born on November 22, 1939, in Etawah. Short in height and high on political drive, he significantly contributed to mainstreaming regional parties in north Indian politics. (Photo: India Today)

Mulayam Singh established himself as an OBC stalwart. For backward castes, especially Yadavs, he was dhartiputra. He was also fondly called ‘Netaji’. (Photo: India Today)

He took oath as UP's 15th CM in 1989, which marked the year when the Congress was voted out. Here, Yadav is seen with RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav. (Photo: India Today)

 In 1992, Mulayam floated his own political outfit, the Samajwadi Party, and there was no looking back. (Photo: India Today)

Mulayam’s rallies featured a theme song, “Naam Mulayam Singh hai, lekin kaam bada fauladi hai”. (Photo: India Today)

Mulayam was sworn in as Uttar Pradesh CM for the third time in 2003. He served till 2007. (Photo: India Today)

Yadav tied up with Kalyan Singh Jan Kranti Party ahead of 2009 Lok Sabha polls. He later termed it “a big mistake”. Here, Mulayam Singh is seen shaking hands with Kalyan Singh. (Photo: India Today)

In the 2012 polls, when the SP won a majority and formed government, Mulayam passed on the leadership mantle to his son Akhilesh Yadav, letting him take over as the CM. (Photo: India Today)

With a political career spanning over 40 years, Mulayam Singh, a mass leader, played politics like a wrestler. (Photo: India Today)