Last rites of Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav in Saifai tomorrow; tributes pour in

Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav has died after a prolonged spell of illness. He was 82. The veteran leader - who was being treated at Gurugram's Medanta Hospital - had served as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. He had also served as India's defence minister.

Mulayam Singh Yadav was admitted to the Gurugram's Medanta Hospital on August 22. He had been tackling health issues over the last few years.

"My respected father has passed away," SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, his son, was quoted as saying in a party statement. Tributes started pouring in soon after the news of his death broke.

"Mulayam Singh Yadav Ji distinguished himself in UP and national politics. He was a key soldier for democracy during the Emergency. As Defence Minister, he worked for a stronger India. His Parliamentary interventions were insightful and emphasised on furthering national interest," Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote in his tweet.

"The death of Samajwadi Party patron Mulayam Singh Yadav, who was also India's former defence minister, is a huge loss to Indian politics. May god grant peace to his soul, and give strength to his family members," the Congress wrote on its official Twitter handle.

After the seasoned leader was shifted to the intensive care unit last week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had taken an update from his son Akhilesh. Defence minister Rajnath Singh had also visited him at the hospital.