Veteran socialist Sharad Yadav dies, condolences pour in
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New Delhi: One of India’s most prominent socialist leaders, Sharad Yadav, died after collapsing at his home in Delhi on Thursday. He was 75 years old.
The former Union Minister was rushed to Gurugram's Fortis Memorial Research Institute but he was unresponsive to CPR.
A statement from the hospital said he was declared dead at 10.19 pm, there ending the eventful political life.
Began as a student leader, Yadav spent most part of his political life opposing the Congress and later involved in JP movement or also known as Bihar Movement in 1974.
Back then, students rallied behind veteran Gandhian socialist Jayaprakash Narayan fighting Indira Gandhi government.
However, ups and downs in politics over the years saw Yadav reconciling both with the Congress and his arch political rival Lalu Yadav.
The bonhomie led to Yadav becoming a key figure behind forming the Grand Alliance after the 2015 assembly elections in Bihar.
Yadav, who was elected to Lok Sabha seven times and three times to Rajya Sabha, served as a minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government in the late '90s and the VP Singh government in 1989.
In 2018, Yadav launched the Loktantrik Janata Dal quitting Bihar's ruling Janata Dal United that he helped founding.
He left the alliance when Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ended the Grand Alliance and joined hands with the BJP.
Almost two years after launching the party, Yadav merged it with Lalu Yadav's Rashtriya Janata Dal saying it was the "first step towards a united opposition".
Leaders across the political divide expressed grief at the demise of Sharad Yadav with Prime Minister Modi tweeting that Yadav was a “distinguished’ MP and minister who was inspired by Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia’s ideals.
Bihar politician Tejashwi Yadav called Yadav his “ guardian” adding that he was a great socialist leader.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said he was saddened by the death of Sharad Yadav who 'strengthened the politics of equality'.
Lalu Yadav who is receiving medical care in Singapore said in a video message that differences he had with Yadav never caused any bitterness.
Lalu Yadav went on to say that Mulayam Singh Yadav, Nitish Kumar and himself learnt socialist politics from Ram Manohar Lohia and Karpoori Thakur.