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Mulayam Singh Yadav Biography: Age, Career, Family and More

F4U Editorial Desk • Updated September 29, 2026 • 6 min read

Quick Info

Date of birth22 November 1939

Age82 Years (at time of death)

BirthplaceSaifai, Etawah district, Uttar Pradesh

ProfessionPolitician

NationalityIndian

Marital statusWidower

SpouseMalti Devi (d. 2003); Sadhana Gupta (d. 2022)

FamilySons: Akhilesh Yadav, Prateek Yadav

Mulayam Singh Yadav Biography

Mulayam Singh Yadav was an Indian politician, founder of the Samajwadi Party, and three-time Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. A veteran of state and nation

Early life and background
Mulayam Singh Yadav was born on 22 November 1939 in Saifai village, Etawah district, Uttar Pradesh. He studied at local colleges including K.K. College in Etawah, A.K. College in Shikohabad and B.R. College at Agra University, where he completed a bachelor’s degree in 1964 and an M.A. in Political Science in 1968. Before entering public life he worked as a teacher and was active in student politics, serving as Student Union Leader at K.K. College. He was also a trained wrestler and counted Ram Manohar Lohia among the political thinkers who influenced him.

Career
Mulayam Singh Yadav’s formal political career began with his election to the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 1967. He first served as a state minister in 1977 and went on to hold a series of party and legislative posts over the following decades. By 1980 he had become president of the Lok Dal, and from 1982 to 1985 he was Leader of the Opposition in the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council.

He first became Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh in 1989 and served two further terms in that office, from 1993 to 1995 and from September 2003 to 2007. In between those state roles he moved between parties and coalitions: he joined Janata Dal (Socialist) in 1990 and in 1992 founded the Samajwadi Party (Socialist), which became his long-standing political vehicle.

On the national stage, Mulayam Singh was elected to the Lok Sabha multiple times, first winning a seat from Mainpuri in 1996. He retained a prominent parliamentary presence through subsequent elections, contesting and winning multiple constituencies in some years. In 1999 he won both Sambhal and Kannauj; in 1998 and again in 2004 he secured Lok Sabha seats; and in 2014 he won both Azamgarh and Mainpuri. In the 2019 general election he retained Mainpuri, defeating his main rival by a margin of over 94,000 votes. During the United Front government, he served as India’s Defence Minister in 1999.

Mulayam’s electoral record included notable victories at the state level as well. In a 2004 by-election he captured the Gunnaur assembly seat with a margin reported as 183,899 votes, a result singled out as a record. Over his long career he built a reputation as a resilient campaigner who repeatedly returned to power in Uttar Pradesh and in Parliament.

Public profile
Mulayam Singh Yadav was widely known by the honorific nickname Neta Ji. He was associated with socialist politics and drew inspiration from leaders such as Ram Manohar Lohia. His family background and political network included several relatives active in public life; his son Akhilesh Yadav is also a politician, and he had another son, Prateek Yadav. Mulayam was married twice; his first wife, Malti Devi, died in 2003, and his second wife, Sadhana Gupta, died in July 2022.

Throughout his life he maintained varied personal interests, including wrestling, reading, music and folk dance. Public records and affidavits filed for elections listed properties such as agricultural and non-agricultural land and residential buildings, and his declared assets were reported during the 2019 Lok Sabha poll.

Controversies and recognition
Across decades in public life Mulayam was a polarizing figure whose remarks and actions occasionally drew criticism and legal attention. He was jailed several times in his political career and remained a prominent figure in debates over law, order and social policy in Uttar Pradesh. After his death he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan posthumously in 2023.

Latest updates
Mulayam Singh Yadav died on 10 October 2022 at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram after a prolonged illness. He was 82 years old at the time of his passing. Posthumous recognition included the 2023 Padma Vibhushan.

Legacy
As founder of the Samajwadi Party and a three-time chief minister, Mulayam Singh Yadav left a long imprint on Uttar Pradesh politics. His blend of grassroots organization, repeated electoral comebacks and central-government roles marked him as one of the dominant figures of his generation in state and national politics.
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Recent Work

Founder, Samajwadi Party

Founded the Samajwadi Party (Socialist) on 4 October 1992 and led it as his principal political platform.

1992
Defence Minister of India

Served as Defence Minister during the United Front coalition government in 1999.

1999
Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh (third term)

Became Chief Minister for the third time in September 2003.

2003
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Career Highlights

  1. Elected to Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 1967
  2. Served three terms as Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh (1989–1991, 1993–1995, 2003–2007)
  3. Founded the Samajwadi Party in 1992
  4. Elected multiple times to the Lok Sabha, representing Mainpuri and other constituencies
  5. Served as India’s Defence Minister in 1999
  6. Won the 2004 Gunnaur assembly by-election by a reported margin of 183,899 votes
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Frequently Asked Questions

When was Mulayam Singh Yadav born?

22 November 1939

What is Mulayam Singh Yadav known for?

Politician

What is Mulayam Singh Yadav’s marital status?

Widower

Who is Mulayam Singh Yadav married to?

Malti Devi (d. 2003); Sadhana Gupta (d. 2022)