Yadav's election to the post was announced on the opening day of the party's fourth three-day national convention today. Mulayam Singh's name was proposed by party general secretary Azam Khan and seconded by another secretary Kiran Moy Nanda.

The former defence minister's name for the post was approved unanimously by members of the national executive and all the delegates attending the convention.

Earlier, senior party leader Ahmed Hasan was appointed returning officer for conducting the organisational polls. Later, party MP Mohan Singh moved a resolution authorising Yadav to appoint a new team of office-bearers and members of the national executive. This resolution was also unanimously endorsed by the convention.