Who Is Aparna Yadav? Late Prateek Yadav's Wife, Mulayam Singh Yadav's Daughter-In-Law, BJP Leader

Prateek Yadav, the youngest son of the late Samajwadi Party (SP) founder, Mulayam Singh Yadav and stepbrother of Akhilesh Yadav, passed away in Lucknow on May 13, 2026. He was just 38 years old at the time of his demise. The sudden passing of Prateek, who appeared to be into fitness and healthy lifestyle, sparked concern regarding what might have gone wrong that led to the unfortunate happening. According to reports by the Times of India and Hindustan Times, the cause of his death was a lung illness.

Following a sudden health decline around 5:00 a.m., Prateek Yadav was brought to the Civil Hospital, Lucknow, where he was declared dead within an hour, at 5:55 a.m. An autopsy was ordered at KGMU to determine the exact cause of his untimely demise. As Prateek Yadav made headlines, his high-profile family background has come to the focus. The Yadav family is known for their political influence in India, including Prateek's wife, BJP leader, Aparna Yadav. Here's everything to know about her as she became a widow at just 36.

Meet Prateek Yadav's wife, Aparna Yadav

Aparna Yadav (maiden name Aparna Bisht) is a prominent politician from Uttar Pradesh. She currently serves as the Vice-Chairperson of the Uttar Pradesh State Commission for Women. Aparna is widely known as a leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and as the daughter-in-law of the late Samajwadi Party patriarch, Mulayam Singh Yadav. Talking about Aparna's educational background, she completed her schooling at Loreto Convent Intermediate College in Lucknow. She holds a Master's degree in International Relations and Politics from the University of Manchester.

Additionally, Aparna is a trained classical and semi-classical singer from Lucknow's Bhatkhande Music Institute. She stepped into active politics by representing her father-in-law's party in the 2017 Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections. She contested from the Lucknow Cantonment seat and was fondly referred to as the party's 'choti bahu' by the public. However, even after the hype, she lost the election to BJP leader, Rita Bahuguna Joshi. Then she herself joined the rival political party, generating a huge buzz.

Aparna Yadav made a switch to the BJP after five years

PC: ANI

In January 2022, ahead of the state assembly elections, Aparna officially left SP to join BJP. During her party switch, she publicly shared her admiration for the leadership and initiatives of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi and Chief Minister, Yogi Adityanath. She actively campaigned for the party in Uttar Pradesh and, in September 2024, got promoted to a high-profile role. The Uttar Pradesh government appointed her as the vice-chairperson of the State Commission for Women and she remains in the office at present.

Aparna Yadav gained prominence as the daughter-in-law of Mulayam Singh Yadav

Prior to her stint with the BJP, Aparna gained prominence for her association with the Yadav family. Although her late husband, Prateek, avoided active politics, the family's fame and influence brought Aparna into the spotlight. Prateek Yadav was the son of Mulayam Singh Yadav's second wife, Sadhana Gupta. Through this marriage, Aparna is the sister-in-law (stepbrother's wife) of former SP Chief, Akhilesh Yadav. Prateek Yadav and his wife, Aparna Yadav, have two daughters; their firstborn is named Prathama Yadav, and the younger one is called Prathama Yadav. Besides the Yadav family's political ties, their personal issues also once made headlines.

Prateek publicly accused his wife, BJP leader Aparna Yadav, of being a "family destroyer" and a "selfish woman". In a series of viral social media posts on January 19, 2026, he alleged that she ruined his relationships with his father and brother, and that only after gaining fame and influence. He stated that his wife's actions placed him in a "very bad mental health condition" and that she remained indifferent to his distress. Prateek even called her a "bad soul" and expressed his intention to divorce her as soon as possible. However, even months after the allegations, the duo remained married until his death.

Photos Credit: Prateek Yadav/IG

We extend our heartfelt condolences to Prateek Yadav's family as they navigate this difficult time.

Also Read: Who Was Prateek Yadav? Akhilesh Yadav's Stepbrother, Considered Divorcing Wife, Aparna, Before Death

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