New Delhi; Former Union Minister and one of the country’s most prominent Socialist leaders, Sharad Yadav, passed away yesterday. He was 75.

Sharad Yadav was ailing for a long time and had collapsed at his home in Delhi yesterday and was rushed to Gurugram’s Fortis Memorial Research Institute in an unconscious state.

A statement from Gurugram’s Fortis Memorial Research Institute said, “On examination, he did not have any pulse or recordable blood pressure. He underwent CPR as per ACLS protocols. Despite best efforts, he could not be revived and was declared dead at 10.19 pm.”

Sharad Yadav had served as a Minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government in the late ‘90s and the VP Singh Government in 1989.

A three-time Member of Rajya Sabha, he was elected to the Lok Sabha seven times. The Founder-Member of Bihar’s ruling Janata Dal United, he quit after Chief Minister Nitish Kumar ended the Grand Alliance and joined hands with the BJP.

In 2018, he launched his own party, the Loktantrik Janata Dal, but merged it with Lalu Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal two years later, saying it was the “first step towards a united opposition.”

Condolences poured in, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi taking to Twitter saying, “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.”