VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html ‘Ab challan mat kaat dena’: Rakesh Bedi’s witty encounter with traffic police who turned into his biggest fans goes VIRAL 5 tiny and adorable dog breeds that shed less Thursday Ritual: Guru Remedies to gain wealth, money and success Rape, fraud and ‘blessed goods’: ED tightens grip on Nashik astrologer ‘Bhondu Baba’, summons NCP leader Rupali Chakankar Brighton Beach Incident: UK police recover bodies of three women from sea off Brighton beach Why ‘Congress-mukt Bharat’ may not become reality NEW DELHI: “Congress-mukt Bharat banana hai …” When Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared this at a BJP national executive meeting in Goa in June 2013, it was meant to be a political slogan to galvanize party cadres for the 2014 Lok Sabha challenge. After all, the Congress then ruled 14 states and was in the ninth year of its rule at the Centre. So, any call for erasing the grand-old-party from the country’s political map could only be a political rhetoric.But then came the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and the BJP storm swept away the Congress at the Centre. The Congress was reduced to just 44 seats – its worst performance in history. And that was the beginning of a decline that gradually saw the Congress footprint in the country shrink dramatically. For a party that had governed India for decades, it was a civilisational shock. Yes, the Congress suffered humiliating electoral defeats. Yes, it faced leadership crises, defections, and repeated predictions of political extinction. But still, even 13 years after PM Modi’s call for “Congress-mukt Bharat”, the BJP could not wipe out the grand-old-party from the political map.Even at its worst, the Congress ruled three states, something which no regional party could ever achieve. That number has now gone up to 4, with the grand-old-party scoring a comprehensive victory in Kerala in the just-concluded assembly elections. The Congress’s decline had two dimensions – the decimation at Centre and the loss of states. To understand the path of the Congress recovery, one must first revisit just how brutal the decline was.The slide at Centre: How Congress fell to its kneesIn September 2013, when the BJP baton was passed on to the then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, the Congress had 206 members in Lok Sabha.In 2014, riding the Modi wave, the BJP stormed to 282 Lok Sabha seats decimating the Congress and reducing it to 44 seats. The number was so low that the Congress did not get the constitutional post of the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha.If 2014 was a humiliation, 2019 was meant to be the final nail. The BJP expanded to 303 seats while the Congress could only go up to 52, only eight more than its 2014 tally. It was still not enough to get the post of LoP in Lok Sabha. The drubbing raised fears that “Congress mukt Bharat” was not just a slogan but a prophecy in the making. And yet, within the party’s darkest years, the seeds of recovery were quietly being planted.The Congress joined hands with regional parties and became a part of a broad anti-BJP front. The plan worked and in the 2024 elections, the Congress almost doubled its Lok Sabha tally to reach the score of 99 and finally after 10 years could get back the post of LoP.The BJP, on the other hand, slipped to 240 seats, its first sub-majority performance since 2014 and PM Modi’s third term depended on the support of Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP and Nitish Kumar’s JD(U). Congress did not waste any time to remind BJP that the party that had promised to make India “Congress-mukt” could not form a government on its own.As Congress put it after the results, the election had been “a moral and political loss” for PM Modi. The trajectory, for the first time in many years, was pointing in Congress’s favour. The roller coaster ride in statesThe second dimension of Congress’s decline played out in the states across the country.In 2013, when the call for Congress-mukt Bharat was made, the grand-old-party ruled 14 states in the country. However, the 2014 drubbing triggered a decline which gradually saw the Congress slide dramatically to governing only 3 states.The Congress kept on losing states at regular levels. Fortunately for the party though, the grand-old-party kept on winning odd state elections to ensure that the party was never wiped out completely from the states.Rahul’s Bharat Jodo Yatra Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra in 2022, a 4,000 km padyatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir, was one of the steps that perhaps helped the party reclaim some of the lost political ground. The campaign did not immediately translate into votes. But it did something arguably more important for a party that had lost its voice. It gave Congress a public face again. Rahul Gandhi, who had been caricatured by the BJP as a reluctant, distracted politician, emerged from the yatra with a renewed personal connect with voters. Picture credit: Uday DebThe electoral returns came the following year. In 2023, Congress won Telangana, ending K Chandrashekar Rao’s decade-long BRS rule and Karnataka, where it swept back to power on the back of sharp anti-incumbency against the BJP’s own internal chaos.Himachal Pradesh had already fallen in Congress’s kitty in late 2022, again on local anti-incumbency. So the party had three state governments in quick succession.The 2026 verdict: Congress footprint expands in southIn Kerala, the Congress-led United Democratic Front swept the state with 102 seats, its strongest mandate since 1977. Congress alone won 63 of those. The Left Democratic Front, which had pulled off a historic second consecutive term in 2021, was reduced to 35 seats. Pinarayi Vijayan resigned the same evening. For the first time in half a century, not a single Communist party governs any state. KC Venugopal had said in December that “many red fortresses will collapse.” They did.And while victory in Kerala was largely on expected lines, the Congress sprang a surprise in Tamil Nadu, where it dumped the DMK, an ally of 11 years, for a bold political realignment with Vijay’s TVK to remain on the winning side of the divide. Vijay’s TVK, which stormed the assembly with 108 seats, but failed to reach the magic figure of 118 in the 234-seat assembly, got immediate Congress support.The Congress has not been a dominant force in the state for decades where the Dravidian giants, DMK and AIADMK, have ruled since the grand-old-party was pushed to irrelevance.But the extraordinary post-election churn of May 2026 ensures that the Congress will be at the table.What’s next?Among the many states that go to polls next year, the Congress has high stakes in Punjab and to some extent in Uttar Pradesh – where it is in alliance with Akhilesh Yadav’s Samajwadi Party.Punjab assembly elections next year could be Congress’s biggest electoral opportunity since the 2024 Lok Sabha verdict to add one more state to its kitty. The Congress, which ruled Punjab from 2017 and lost the state to AAP in 2022. However AAP’s internal turbulence, leadership strains and governance pressures could create space for Congress recovery. The Congress, which remains the principal opposition party, would hope to reclaim the state.Whether it can convert AAP’s difficulties into its own votes depends almost entirely on whether it can resolve its chronic internal divisions and present a coherent alternative. That work is yet to begin in any serious way. Moreover, the road ahead for the grand-old-party would not be easy as the BJP has dropped enough hints of a very aggressive Punjab campaign.’Congress-yukt Bharat’The road ahead for the Congress remains an uphill battle. The small electoral successes notwithstanding, the grand-old-party still has a long way to go. The fact that some of the regional heavyweights like Arvind Kejriwal and Mamata Banerjee have suffered electoral setbacks, provides the Congress an opportunity to reclaim some of its lost political space in these states.The key question is whether Congress’s revival stems from a strategy or if it is merely benefiting from the mistakes of its allies and the BJP? For now, the gains Congress is making seem largely incidental and due to the groundwork of state leaders. It’s not due to episodic interventions of Rahul Gandhi. For its long-term revival, the party needs Rahul to be a full-time politician, focusing on identifying and grooming local leaders and smart alliance management at the state level.The Congress remains way behind the BJP, absolutely no doubt about that. But the reality is that the saffron party’s dream of “Congress-mukt Bharat” would perhaps remain just that – a dream. The grand old party is not what it was at its prime, but the country still remains Congress-yukt.About the AuthorPriyanka MukherjeePriyanka Mukherjee is an Assistant News Editor at The Times of India, where deadlines rarely slow down. Often juggling breaking news, long-form explainers and the everyday chaos of the newsroom, she is usually managing stress, chasing clarity and trying to log off on time (rarely successful). She also cares deeply about stories around women’s rights and social change, while two very opinionated dogs make sure she never truly switches off.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSuvendu Adhikari Chooses Bhabanipur Over Nandigram, Sparks Fresh Political Battle In BengalCM Vijay Revokes Astrologer Vettrivel’s OSD Appointment Amid Political Storm In Tamil NaduNEET-UG 2026 Leak Case Reaches Supreme Court, Petition Demands NTA Dissolution And Fresh ExamVijay Wins Tamil Nadu Trust Vote With 144 MLAs Amid AIADMK Split And Assembly ChaosKejriwal Targets BJP Over NEET Leak, Says ‘Gen-Z Can Demand Accountability Like Nepal & Bangladesh’FIR Against SP Spokesperson Rajkumar Bhati Over Viral Anti-Brahmin Remark, BJP Targets AkhileshAkhilesh Yadav Reacts To Prateek Yadav’s Death, Says “Business Losses Can Deeply Distress People”Air India Slashes International Flights | Why Ticket Prices Are Suddenly ExplodingPrateek Yadav Passes Away At 38 In Lucknow, Political Leaders Express GriefGovt Hikes Gold & Silver Import Duty To 15% | Modesty Push Or Economic Warning?123PhotostoriesHow to grow Dragon fruit in your garden: Simple step-by-step guide for beginnersFrom Mouni Roy to Dilip Joshi, Kapil Sharma and more: Highest-paid TV stars and their net worthFrom Bulldogs to Pugs: 5 surprisingly lazy dog breeds that love sleeping all dayRatan Tata’s ₹150 crore sea-facing bungalow ‘Bakhtawar’ is Mumbai’s most iconic legacy property; here’s who lives there nowHow to identify the St Lucia Racer: One of the world’s rarest snakes”Bus uska whistle ka problem tha…thanks to God main bach gai”: When to replace your pressure cooker to avoid any accidentAlia Bhatt just turned Cannes red carpet glamour into pure parampara with this ivory corset sareeDivorce rumours hit paradise: Who is Mouni Roy’s husband Suraj Nambiar? All about their whirlwind romanceHow parents can create an emotionally safe space for children at homeDua Lipa is suing a leading electronics giant for $15 million: 5 other celebrities who took global brands to court123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultUS Iran warPrateek YadavHaryana election resultForeign outflowNEET exam cancelledTamil Nadu assemblyTop TrendingNashik AstrologerTamil Nadu NewsIPL Points TablePM Internship SchemeIPL Match TodayHimanta Biswa SarmaIPL Orange Cap 2026Aparna YadavAir India FlightsPrateek Yadav IPL 2026: ‘I don’t know how Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will last’- AB de Villiers raises alarm over RR prodigy Tata Motors Q4 results: Net profit rises 34% to Rs 1,793 crore; revenue climbs on strong volume growth After Mudassar Aziz, Ayushmann Khurrana defends ‘Pati Patni Aur Woh Do’: ‘We are not glorifying infidelity’ Simple step-by-step guide for beginners Kia Carens Clavis EV now gets BaaS option: Per KM cost, key details Scientists found a hidden giant structure beneath West Antarctica that is almost half the size of Wales Gordon Ramsay’s son in law Adam Peaty to compete in Commonwealth Games with new name after his wedding with Holly Ramsay amid major family feud Picture credit: ANI NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has directed a reduction of his convoy vehicles as an austerity measure towards minimizing fuel consumption. By cutting down his own SPG (Special Protection Group) security entourage, his move nudged others in the government to follow.This came after the PM’s appeal for reduced fuel and gold consumption during a public rally in Hyderabad, amid concerns linked to the US-Iran war and rising energy costs. The number of vehicles in his convoy were significantly cut during his visits to Gujarat and Assam.Here are the other BJP ministers and leaders who followed suit:Union home minister Amit Shah downsized the number of vehicles in his convoy by less than half. Defence minister Rajnath Singh downsizes his convoy size to nearly half, following PM Modi’s appeal.Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has directed an immediate 50 percent reduction in the fleet of vehicles for the CM, ministers, and others. “MPs, MLAs, and public representatives should use public transport for one day a week,” he wrote on X. “The use of public transportation, cycling, carpooling, and electric vehicles should be encouraged.”Maharashtra mandated that state ministers must seek approval from chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ office to use government aircraft, aiming to curb unnecessary air travel.Delhi CM Rekha Gupta also took the decision to limit number of vehicles used for departmental work. “I and all my Cabinet colleagues, all MLAs of the Bharatiya Janata Party, public representatives, officers of the Delhi government, and all departments will also use the minimum number of vehicles as required and prioritize carpooling and public transport,” she said.Mohan Yadav, the chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, said his cavalcade will have the minimum number of vehicles required for security, and there will be no vehicle rallies during tours.Rajasthan chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has instructed all officials and public representatives, including the Chief Secretary, to minimize convoy vehicle use. “The focus is on reducing fuel consumption by avoiding unnecessary travel and promoting more economical use of petrol and diesel,” he said.Gujarat governor Acharya Devvrat has announced that he will travel within Gujarat using public transport like trains and ST (State Transport) buses; instead of helicopters and flights. He also reduced the size of his official convoys. An appeal has been made to universities, government officers and citizens across Gujarat to promote bicycles, electric vehicles, public transport, indigenous products and natural farming. Furthermore, Gujarat deputy chief minister Harsh Sanghavi cancelled his visit to the United States, citing the PM’s appeal to cut fuel usage and avoid non-essential foreign travel.Bihar deputy chief minister and senior JD (U) leader Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, and two other ministers, Leshi Singh and Sheela Mandal, have said that they would undertake measures for the same. “I have personally reduced the number of vehicles I use by half. I will undertake official travel only when necessary,” said Chaudhary.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCM Vijay Revokes Astrologer Vettrivel’s OSD Appointment Amid Political Storm In Tamil NaduNEET-UG 2026 Leak Case Reaches Supreme Court, Petition Demands NTA Dissolution And Fresh ExamVijay Wins Tamil Nadu Trust Vote With 144 MLAs Amid AIADMK Split And Assembly ChaosKejriwal Targets BJP Over NEET Leak, Says ‘Gen-Z Can Demand Accountability Like Nepal & Bangladesh’FIR Against SP Spokesperson Rajkumar Bhati Over Viral Anti-Brahmin Remark, BJP Targets AkhileshAkhilesh Yadav Reacts To Prateek Yadav’s Death, Says “Business Losses Can Deeply Distress People”Air India Slashes International Flights | Why Ticket Prices Are Suddenly ExplodingPrateek Yadav Passes Away At 38 In Lucknow, Political Leaders Express GriefGovt Hikes Gold & Silver Import Duty To 15% | Modesty Push Or Economic Warning?PM Modi Pushes Major Austerity Drive, Orders Reduction In Convoy Size And Fuel Consumption Measures123PhotostoriesHow to grow Dragon fruit in your garden: Simple step-by-step guide for beginnersFrom Mouni Roy to Dilip Joshi, Kapil Sharma and more: Highest-paid TV stars and their net worthFrom Bulldogs to Pugs: 5 surprisingly lazy dog breeds that love sleeping all dayRatan Tata’s ₹150 crore sea-facing bungalow ‘Bakhtawar’ is Mumbai’s most iconic legacy property; here’s who lives there nowHow to identify the St Lucia Racer: One of the world’s rarest snakes”Bus uska whistle ka problem tha…thanks to God main bach gai”: When to replace your pressure cooker to avoid any accidentAlia Bhatt just turned Cannes red carpet glamour into pure parampara with this ivory corset sareeDivorce rumours hit paradise: Who is Mouni Roy’s husband Suraj Nambiar? All about their whirlwind romanceHow parents can create an emotionally safe space for children at homeDua Lipa is suing a leading electronics giant for $15 million: 5 other celebrities who took global brands to court123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultUS Iran warPrateek YadavHaryana election resultForeign outflowNEET exam cancelledTamil Nadu assemblyTop TrendingNashik AstrologerTamil Nadu NewsIPL Points TablePM Internship SchemeIPL Match TodayHimanta Biswa SarmaIPL Orange Cap 2026Aparna YadavAir India FlightsPrateek Yadav CBSE Class 12th result 2026: Why students scored lower this year as pass percentage falls by 3.19% ‘The Boys Season 5 Episode 7’: Where and when to watch Homelander’s chaos These low-water plants make sunny sidewalk strips look expensive with less watering | The Delphi mystery reopened: Why the secret to the Oracle lies deep beneath the temple floor Blood clot in lungs caused Prateek Yadav’s death, reveals post-mortem report Google Corporate Philosophy: The one Google rule, ‘focus on the user’, that helped build a trillion-dollar company | World News West Bengal HS Class 12th result 2026 tomorrow: Here’s what students need to know Rakul Preet Singh reacts to Jackky Bhagnani’s ‘situationship’ remark: ‘People don’t know about our life, it was taken out of context’ 7 flowering shrubs that keep front yards looking bright even after summer blooms fade | The hidden highway: Why ancient Roman engineers were 2,000 years ahead of modern road science ‘EPS has no such idea’: Rebel AIADMK MLA Shanmugam turns ‘betrayer’ charge on party chief Bernard Arnault’s simple billionaire business lesson that most companies forget under pressure | World News IPL 2026: Virat Kohli’s strong record against KKR faces toughest challenge in Sunil Narine MSP hike for Kharif crops: Cabinet raises support prices for 14 crops, sunflower and cotton see biggest jump ‘Can’t stop paper leaks, how will he halt war’: Congress targets PM Modi over NEET-UG paper leak ‘Gunmaaster G9’: Emraan Hashmi starrer action thriller eyes Dussehra 2026 release 7 native plants that keep your front yard neat and pollinator-friendly | Horoscope Tomorrow, May 14, 2026: Your zodiac insights await The hidden Pacific mountain that made scientists rethink the world’s biggest volcano Neet 2026: Meet Ashok Bahar: 71-year-old UP man whose dream of clearing NEET 2026 was shattered by the paper leak Assam CM Himanta NEW DELHI: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced on Wednesday that assam govt will introduce the Uniform Civil Code Bill (UCC) in the Assembly on May 26. “Assam cabinet has decided to introduce UCC Bill (Uniform Civil Code Bill) on the last day of the state assembly session on May 26. The state cabinet has approved the draft of UCC,” he said, as quoted by ANI.Further sharing details on specific implementation for the state, he added, “”Basically, the UCC will deal with marriage, live-in relationship and compulsory registration of marriage, including divorce. It will be almost in sync with Gujarat, Uttarakhand and Goa. However, we have completely exempted the tribal population and customs, rituals, and traditions of Assam. Because in Assam we have different communities, different customs.”The move comes as part of the BJP-led government’s broader commitment to implement the UCC, a long-standing ideological and legislative promise in its election manifesto.The Uniform Civil Code refers to a proposal to replace personal laws based on religion with a common set of civil laws governing marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption for all citizens. It is aimed at ensuring uniformity in legal rights and obligations across communities, though it remains a politically sensitive issue in India.Only a few states, including Uttarakhand, have so far implemented the UCC framework, while others like Gujarat have also moved in that direction.CM Sarma has previously said the government will act in line with its manifesto and under constitutional provisions while prioritising Assam’s identity and development agenda.The announcement adds to a series of policy commitments by the newly formed “NDA 3.0” government in the state, which has signalled a push to accelerate reforms in its current term.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCM Vijay Revokes Astrologer Vettrivel’s OSD Appointment Amid Political Storm In Tamil NaduNEET-UG 2026 Leak Case Reaches Supreme Court, Petition Demands NTA Dissolution And Fresh ExamVijay Wins Tamil Nadu Trust Vote With 144 MLAs Amid AIADMK Split And Assembly ChaosKejriwal Targets BJP Over NEET Leak, Says ‘Gen-Z Can Demand Accountability Like Nepal & Bangladesh’FIR Against SP Spokesperson Rajkumar Bhati Over Viral Anti-Brahmin Remark, BJP Targets AkhileshAkhilesh Yadav Reacts To Prateek Yadav’s Death, Says “Business Losses Can Deeply Distress People”Air India Slashes International Flights | Why Ticket Prices Are Suddenly ExplodingPrateek Yadav Passes Away At 38 In Lucknow, Political Leaders Express GriefGovt Hikes Gold & Silver Import Duty To 15% | Modesty Push Or Economic Warning?PM Modi Pushes Major Austerity Drive, Orders Reduction In Convoy Size And Fuel Consumption Measures123PhotostoriesFrom Mouni Roy to Dilip Joshi, Kapil Sharma and more: Highest-paid TV stars and their net worthFrom Bulldogs to Pugs: 5 surprisingly lazy dog breeds that love sleeping all dayRatan Tata’s ₹150 crore sea-facing bungalow ‘Bakhtawar’ is Mumbai’s most iconic legacy property; here’s who lives there nowHow to identify the St Lucia Racer: One of the world’s rarest snakes”Bus uska whistle ka problem tha…thanks to God main bach gai”: When to replace your pressure cooker to avoid any accidentAlia Bhatt just turned Cannes red carpet glamour into pure parampara with this ivory corset sareeDivorce rumours hit paradise: Who is Mouni Roy’s husband Suraj Nambiar? All about their whirlwind romanceHow parents can create an emotionally safe space for children at homeDua Lipa is suing a leading electronics giant for $15 million: 5 other celebrities who took global brands to court10 Birds that do not make their own nests123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultUS Iran warPrateek YadavHaryana election resultForeign outflowNEET exam cancelledTamil Nadu assemblyTop TrendingNashik AstrologerTamil Nadu NewsIPL Points TablePM Internship SchemeIPL Match TodayHimanta Biswa SarmaIPL Orange Cap 2026Aparna YadavAir India FlightsPrateek Yadav IPL 2026: The Siraj-Rabada powerplay blueprint – Test-match lengths, T20 destruction Bengaluru NLSIU students protest lack of amenities in hostel ‘The people’s wish has come true,’ director Shankar hails CM Vijay’s success Neetu Kapoor Parenting Advice: ‘It’s so scary what all can happen on…’: Neetu Kapoor goes candid on modern parenting fears and shares Alia Bhatt’s approach with Raha Scientists find hidden limb regeneration ability in mammals: What it means for humans Fuel crisis fallout: Air India suspends, reduces frequency on 29 international routes till August – full list Updated: May 13, 2026, 16:01 IST Trains at 220 kmph on Indian Railways soon! Cabinet approves Ahmedabad-Dholera semi high-speed rail project; check details RRB JE Stage 1 CBT result 2026 out: Direct links to download scorecards here Abhishek Bachchan reacts to being called ‘Shambu Raje’ at a traffic signal after ‘Raja Shivaji’: ‘It has never happened to me before’ Ratan Tata’s ₹150 crore sea-facing bungalow ‘Bakhtawar’ is Mumbai’s most iconic legacy property; here’s who lives there now The US has lost the reputation war — to Russia and China Prateek Yadav with Aparna Yadav (Image/PTI) NEW DELHI: Samajwadi Party leader Ravidas Mehrotra on Wednesday made a shocking claim regarding the death of Mulayam Singh Yadav’s younger son Prateek Yadav.He alleged that after enquiring about the post-mortem report of Prateek, doctors informed him that the death did not appear to be ‘normal’ and that poison could be a possible cause. Watch Akhilesh Yadav Reacts To Prateek Yadav’s Death, Says “Business Losses Can Deeply Distress People”Speaking to reporters, Mehrotra said, “His body was brought for post-mortem. I enquired about the reason for his post-mortem. The doctor said that this is not a normal death. It is a death in a critical condition. He said that the cause of his death could be poison.”Claiming that there were injury marks on Prateek Yadav’s body, Mehrotra further said, “There were bruises on his body. They are demanding that the cause of Prateek Yadav’s death should be investigated. He had his own gym. He used to exercise in the gym. He was completely healthy. So, how could he die suddenly? He died before coming to the hospital.”Prateek Yadav, the stepbrother of Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav and husband of BJP leader Aparna Yadav, passed away in Lucknow on Wednesday morning at the age of 38.He was brought to Civil Hospital around 6 am, where doctors declared him brought dead. Prateek was the son of Sadhana Gupta, the second wife of late Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav. Despite belonging to one of Uttar Pradesh’s most prominent political families, he largely stayed away from active politics and focused on business and fitness ventures.He ran ‘The Fitness Planet’, a well-known gym in Lucknow and was known for maintaining an active fitness-oriented lifestyle. He had studied at the University of Leeds before returning to India to pursue business interests.Soon after the news of his death emerged, political leaders across party lines expressed grief and condolences.In a post on X, Akhilesh Yadav wrote, “The passing of Shri Prateek Yadav Ji is extremely sad! May God grant peace to the departed soul. Humble tribute!”The Samajwadi Party also condoled his death, saying, “The passing of Prateek Yadav is deeply saddening. May God grant peace to the departed soul.”Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath termed the death ‘extremely heartbreaking’ and extended condolences to the bereaved family.In a post on X, Adityanath said, “The sudden demise of Prateek Yadav, son of former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Mulayam Singh Yadav, and husband of Aparna Yadav, Vice-Chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh State Women’s Commission, is extremely heartbreaking. My condolences are with the bereaved family.”Prateek Yadav had also been in the news earlier this year after publicly speaking about marital issues with his wife Aparna Yadav on social media.In a post shared on his Instagram account, he had accused Aparna of damaging his ties with family members and had stated that he intended to seek divorce.PollDo you believe there should be an investigation into Prateek Yadav death?YesNo”I am going to divorce this selfish woman as soon as possible. She ruined my family ties. All she wants is to become famous and influential. Right now, I am in a very bad mental health condition and she doesn’t bother because it’s only herself she bothers about,” he had written.”I have never seen such a bad soul, and I was unfortunate to get married to her,” he added.However, days later, Prateek had shared another Instagram post with the message: “All is good,” triggering speculation over whether the couple had reconciled.Aparna Yadav, who contested the 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly election on a Samajwadi Party ticket before joining the BJP in 2022, currently serves as vice-chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh State Commission for Women.Prateek and Aparna married in 2011 in a high-profile ceremony held in Saifai village in Etawah district, the ancestral home of the Yadav family.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNEET-UG 2026 Leak Case Reaches Supreme Court, Petition Demands NTA Dissolution And Fresh ExamVijay Wins Tamil Nadu Trust Vote With 144 MLAs Amid AIADMK Split And Assembly ChaosKejriwal Targets BJP Over NEET Leak, Says ‘Gen-Z Can Demand Accountability Like Nepal & Bangladesh’FIR Against SP Spokesperson Rajkumar Bhati Over Viral Anti-Brahmin Remark, BJP Targets AkhileshAkhilesh Yadav Reacts To Prateek Yadav’s Death, Says “Business Losses Can Deeply Distress People”Air India Slashes International Flights | Why Ticket Prices Are Suddenly ExplodingPrateek Yadav Passes Away At 38 In Lucknow, Political Leaders Express GriefGovt Hikes Gold & Silver Import Duty To 15% | Modesty Push Or Economic Warning?PM Modi Pushes Major Austerity Drive, Orders Reduction In Convoy Size And Fuel Consumption MeasuresRahul Gandhi Submits Dissent Note On CBI Chief Selection After Key Meet At PM Modi’s Residence123Photostories”Bus uska whistle ka problem tha…thanks to God main bach gai”: When to replace your pressure cooker to avoid any accidentAlia Bhatt just turned Cannes red carpet glamour into pure parampara with this ivory corset sareeDivorce rumours hit paradise: Who is Mouni Roy’s husband Suraj Nambiar? 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