Mulayam Singh Yadav, the Samajwadi Party patriarch and a three-time Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, died this morning. He was 82. He was considered a key component in opposition politics, though ill-health forced him out of the limelight on the national stage for the last few years. Popularly referred to as "Netaji" by Samajwadi Party supporters and leaders, Mr Yadav had also served as the country's Defence Minister.