Prateek Yadav, the younger son of late Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav and half-brother of Akhilesh Yadav, died in Lucknow at the age of 38 on Wednesday.
Sources said Prateek suddenly fell ill in the early hours of the day and was rushed to a civil hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
In a brief condolence message on X, Samajwadi Party said, “The demise of Shri Prateek Yadav Ji is extremely heartbreaking! May God grant peace to the departed soul. Humble tribute!”
Who Was Prateek Yadav?
Born in 1988, Prateek Yadav largely stayed away from active politics despite belonging to one of Uttar Pradesh’s most influential political families. Known as a fitness enthusiast and businessman, he maintained a relatively low public profile compared to other members of the Yadav family.
Prateek was the son of Mulayam Singh Yadav and his second wife, Sadhna Gupta. His wife, Aparna Yadav, is currently associated with the BJP and serves as the vice-chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh State Women’s Commission.
The couple has two daughters.
A Family Marked By Political History
Mulayam Singh Yadav was married twice. With his first wife, Malti Devi, he had Akhilesh Yadav, who later became Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and chief of the Samajwadi Party.
After Malti Devi’s death in 2003, Mulayam Singh publicly acknowledged his relationship with Sadhna Gupta, a former Samajwadi Party worker.
For years, reports claimed Prateek was the son of Sadhna Gupta and her former husband Chandraprakash Gupta. His paternity remained a subject of speculation until investigations in a disproportionate assets case involving Mulayam Singh Yadav and his family reportedly brought the matter into the public domain.
Mulayam Singh Yadav died in October 2022 at the age of 82.
Relationship With Akhilesh Yadav
Although Prateek and Akhilesh shared the same father, the two were rarely seen together publicly. Political observers often linked tensions within the Yadav family to the growing influence of Sadhna Gupta in Mulayam Singh Yadav’s life.
The family dynamics were also believed to have contributed to the political fallout between Akhilesh Yadav and his uncle Shivpal Singh Yadav.
Public Fallout With Aparna Yadav
Earlier this year, Prateek Yadav had made headlines after publicly announcing his intention to divorce Aparna Yadav.
In a strongly worded Instagram post shared on January 19, he accused her of damaging family relationships and described her as “self-centred” and overly focused on fame and influence.
However, the couple reconciled within days.
On January 28, Prateek posted a video on Instagram confirming that the dispute had been resolved mutually. In the video, he said, “There is no longer any dispute between us.” He also shared another post featuring Aparna Yadav, signalling reconciliation.
Sudden Death Shocks Political Circles
Prateek Yadav’s sudden death has sent shockwaves through political circles in Uttar Pradesh and beyond. Though he remained distant from electoral politics, his connection to the influential Yadav family kept him in the public eye.
Leaders from multiple parties and supporters of the Samajwadi Party have expressed condolences following the news of his demise.