Mulayam Singh Yadav and family: Everyone is someone in Uttar Pradesh

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Updated: Sep 15, 2016 18:52 IST

A power struggle within the Yadavs of Uttar Pradesh, among the most influential political dynasties in India, has presented its patriarch Mulayam Singh with a tough political crisis ahead of election in the state next year.

The family has twenty members in politics - five Lok Sabha members, one Rajya Sabha member, one state lawmaker, two legislative council members and several others in lower-level political posts.

Here are brief profiles of the prominent members of Mulayam’s family:

Read: Political dispute, not family fight, says Akhilesh after clipping uncle’s wings

MULAYAM SINGH, National president Samajwadi party

Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav at Parliament during monsoon session in New Delhi. (PTI Photo)

A three-time chief minister, Mulayam started out as a student leader. He won his first state election in 1967 and was elected chief minister for the first time in 1989 and founded the Samajwadi Party in 1992. He also held the position of Union defence minister thrice. An MP from Azamgarh, the 76-year-old leader nurtures prime ministerial aspirations.

BADA BETA: AKHILESH YADAV, Chief minister of Uttar Pradesh

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav addresses a press conference in Lucknow on Wednesday. (PTI Photo)

He began his political journey by winning the Lok Sabha bypolls from Kannauj in 2000. A three-time MP, he is now a member of the Upper House of UP legislature. He was removed as the UP state president of the party on September 13 after holding the position for about seven years.

Read: UP politics in the eye of a storm: Power centres in Yadav family

CHHOTA BETA: PRATEEK YADAV, Businessman

Seen as largely staying away from politics, Prateek has business interests in real estate and a chain of fitness centres.

BADI BAHU: DIMPLE YADAV, Politician

Samajwadi Party MP Dimple Yadav with party leaders at Parliament house during the monsoon session in New Delhi. (PTI Photo)

She is Akhilesh’s wife and a member of parliament from Kannauj. Her political career began with a stumble when she lost her Lok Sabha bypolls in 2009 from Firozabad. She then won the Kannauj Lok Sabha by polls in 2012 and the Lok Sabha elections for the same seat in 2014.

CHHOTI BAHU: APARNA YADAV, Aspiring politician

Aparna has been seen as harbouring political dreams since her marriage with Prateek. She is considered close to both Mulayam and Shivpal Yadav. She is a candidate from Lucknow Cantonment for next year’s polls.

BHAI NO 1: SHIVPAL SINGH YADAV, Politician

Shivpal Singh Yadav (centre) with Qaumi Ekta Dal president Afzaal Ansari (left) and MLA Sigbatullah Ansari (right) at a press conference in Lucknow. (PTI File Photo)

He started by taking care of Mulayam’s constituency but emerged as the de-facto chief minister during Mulayam’s last stint in power. A state lawmaker, he is a major power centre in the Samajwadi Party, of which he was made the state president on September 13, 2016. He held several top ministries before Akhilesh divested him of two portfolios – Irrigation and PWD. His wife, Sarla, heads a cooperative bank in Etawah. His son Aditya, who is the chairman of UP cooperative federation, might fight the 2017 polls.

BHAI: RATAN SINGH, Deceased

Was an ex-service man who fought the 1965 war. His grandson Tej Pratap Singh Yadav is an MP from Mainpuri. He is married to RJD leader Lalu Prasad Yadav’s daughter Rajlakshmi. He is close to Akhilesh Yadav.

BHAI: ABHAY RAM, Farmer

His son Dharmendra Yadav is a two-time MP, now representing Badayun.

BHAI: RAJPAL SINGH YADAV, Ex-government employee

He is a former employee of the Central Warehousing Corporation. His wife and son are panchayat-level leaders.

CHACHERA-BHAI (COUSIN): RAMGOPAL YADAV, Politician

Textile minister Smriti Irani (R) and Samajwadi Party MP Ramgopal Yadav and other members at Parliament House in New Delhi. (PTI Photo)

A party heavyweight, Ramgopal is a key strategist and a Rajya Sabha member. He was a physics professor and has also served as principal at an Etawah college. He is close to both Mulayam and also helped Akhilesh become the chief minister in 2012. His son Akshay Yadav is the Ferozabad MP and close to Akhilesh.