Sharad Yadav passes away at 75; PM Modi, Nitish Kumar and others condole death

“He underwent CPR as per ACLS protocols. Despite best efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 10.19 PM. We would like to convey our deepest condolences to his family,” read the statement released by Fortis.

Yadav held various portfolios in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government between 1999 and 2004. He recently merged Loktrantik Janata Dal (LJD), a party he had floated in 2018, with the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

After Yadav’s daughter Subhashini Yadav confirmed the news on social media, condolence messages poured in. “Pained by the passing away of Shri Sharad Yadav Ji. In his long years in public life, he distinguished himself as MP and Minister. He was greatly inspired by Dr. Lohia’s ideals. I will always cherish our interactions. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted.

Pained by the passing away of Shri Sharad Yadav Ji. In his long years in public life, he distinguished himself as MP and Minister. He was greatly inspired by Dr. Lohia’s ideals. I will always cherish our interactions. Condolences to his family and admirers. Om Shanti.

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) January 12, 2023

The country’s President Droupadi Murmu, and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankar took to Twitter to condole the death of the former JD(U) president. Calling him “an important national voice of the dispossessed in Parliament,” President Murmu tweeted, “Saddened to know about the passing away of former Union Minister Shri Sharad Yadav. A student leader of seventies who fought for democratic values, Sharad ji was an important national voice of the dispossessed in Parliament. My deepest condolences to his family and admirers.”

Saddened to know about the passing away of former Union Minister Shri Sharad Yadav. A student leader of seventies who fought for democratic values, Sharad ji was an important national voice of the dispossessed in Parliament. My deepest condolences to his family and admirers.

— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) January 12, 2023

In a tweet, VP Jagdeep Dhankar said, “Saddened by the untimely passing away of former Union Minister & veteran Parliamentarian, Shri Sharad Yadav Ji. A popular leader and an astute administrator, he set high benchmarks in public life. My deepest condolences to his family members and well wishers. Om Shanti!”

Saddened by the untimely passing away of former Union Minister & veteran Parliamentarian, Shri Sharad Yadav Ji. A popular leader and an astute administrator, he set high benchmarks in public life. My deepest condolences to his family members and well wishers. Om Shanti!

— Vice President of India (@VPSecretariat) January 12, 2023

Tributes also poured in from leaders of various political parties. “I am saddened by the demise of socialist leader and former JD(U) president Mr. Sharad Yadav. Serving the country as a former Union Minister and an outstanding Parliamentarian for decades, he strengthened the politics of equality. My deepest condolences to his family and supporters,” tweeted Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge.

देश की समाजवादी धारा के वरिष्ठ नेता, जेडीयू के पूर्व अध्यक्ष, श्री शरद यादव जी के निधन से दुःखी हूँ।

एक पूर्व केंद्रीय मंत्री व दशकों तक एक उत्कृष्ट सांसद के तौर पर देश सेवा का कार्य कर,उन्होंने समानता की राजनीति को मज़बूत किया।

उनके परिवार एवं समर्थकों को मेरी गहरी संवेदनाएँ।

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) January 12, 2023

In a tweet in Hindi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said, “Sharad Yadav ji was a person of humble nature along with being the leader of socialism. I learned a lot from him. I express my deepest condolences to his bereaved family members. His contribution to the country will always be remembered.”

शरद यादव जी समाजवाद के पुरोधा होने के साथ एक विनम्र स्वभाव के व्यक्ति थे। मैंने उनसे बहुत कुछ सीखा है।

उनके शोकाकुल परिजनों को अपनी गहरी संवेदनाएं व्यक्त करता हूं। देश के लिए उनका योगदान सदा याद रखा जाएगा।

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) January 12, 2023

Political leaders in Bihar, across party lines, expressed their grief over the death of the leader.

The current and the former Chief Ministers of Bihar as well as close political aides of Yadav — Nitish Kumar, and Lalu Prasad Yadav respectively — expressed their condolences over Twitter. Kumar wrote, “Saddened by the demise of former Union Minister Sharad Yadav. I had a very deep relationship with Sharad Yadav ji. I am shocked and saddened by the news of his demise. He was a strong socialist leader. His demise has caused an irreparable loss to the social and political field. May his soul rest in peace.”

पूर्व केंद्रीय मंत्री शरद यादव जी का निधन दुःखद। शरद यादव जी से मेरा बहुत गहरा संबंध था। मैं उनके निधन की खबर से स्तब्ध एवं मर्माहत हूं। वे एक प्रखर समाजवादी नेता थे। उनके निधन से सामाजिक एवं राजनीतिक क्षेत्र में अपूरणीय क्षति हुई है। ईश्वर उनकी आत्मा को शांति दें।

— Nitish Kumar (@NitishKumar) January 12, 2023

Lalu Prasad Yadav tweeted, “Just got the sad news of Sharadbhai’s death here at night in Singapore. I feel very helpless …  I didn’t want to say goodbye like this. Soulful Tribute!” He also shared a video message from a hospital in Singapore over the platform saying, “Sharad Yadav ji, respected Mulayam Singh Yadav ji, Nitish Kumar ji … Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia and other political leaders … we have all been engaging with politics together.”

अभी सिंगापुर में रात्रि में के समय शरद भाई के जाने का दुखद समाचार मिला। बहुत बेबस महसूस कर रहा हूँ। आने से पहले मुलाक़ात हुई थी और कितना कुछ हमने सोचा था समाजवादी व सामाजिक न्याय की धारा के संदर्भ में।

शरद भाई…ऐसे अलविदा नही कहना था। भावपूर्ण श्रद्धांजलि! pic.twitter.com/t17VHO24Rg

— Lalu Prasad Yadav (@laluprasadrjd) January 12, 2023

Deputy CM of Bihar Tejashwi Yadav too shared a video message on Twitter, calling the death of Sharad Yadav “a great loss for the socialist fraternity,” that comes close “on the heels of the demise of Netaji (Samajwadi Party founder Mulayam Singh Yadav).”

आदरणीय अभिभावक शरद यादव जी को अश्रुपूर्ण भावभीनी श्रद्धांजलि। शत्-शत् नमन। pic.twitter.com/n1lDGQoFQ3

— Tejashwi Yadav (@yadavtejashwi) January 12, 2023

Moreover, former Deputy CM Sushil Kumar Modi, a senior BJP leader recalled the key role played by Yadav in his appointment to the position when JD(U)-BJP alliance assumed power in the state in 2005. “Sharad Yadav was my political guardian. He had a big role in making me the Deputy Chief Minister. Bihar will never forget his contribution,” he wrote on Twitter.

शरद यादव मेरे राजनीतिक अभिभावक थे।मुझे उप मुख्यमंत्री बनवाने में उनकी बड़ी भूमिका थी ।बिहार उनके योगदान को कभी नहीं भूलेगा।@ZeeBiharNews @aajtak @ABPNews @News18Bihar @ANI

— Sushil Kumar Modi (@SushilModi) January 12, 2023

A product of the movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan in the 70s, Sharad Yadav was one of the founding members of the Janata Dal (United) in 2003 after breaking away from the Janata Dal. In 2017, Sharad lost his claim over JD(U) with the Election Commission recognising the faction led by Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. Later, he was disqualified from the Rajya Sabha after Kumar petitioned against him for indulging in “anti-party activities”. In 2018, after parting ways with the JD(U), Yadav floated the LJD.

Yadav is survived by his wife, a daughter, and a son.