The political landscape of Haryana has lost a stalwart as former Chief Minister Om Prakash Chautala bids adieu at the age of 89. A four-time CM and a pivotal leader of the Indian National Lok Dal, Chautala and his family held significant sway in state's politics. Just before the assembly elections, Chautala ambitiously declared his aspiration to live until 115, a dream that nature chose to cut short.
Breathing his last breath in Gurugram, he left an indelible mark despite controversies like the teacher recruitment scam, for which he served time. His roots lay in Hisar, a stronghold of the influential Jat community that comprises nearly a quarter of the state's population and holds power in about 36 constituencies.
Son to the formidable leader Chaudhary Devi Lal, who served as India’s Deputy Prime Minister and twice as Haryana’s CM, Chautala upheld a legacy intertwined with the state's political fabric.
The Chautala Family's Unyielding Presence in Haryana Politics
Centered around the Chautala family is a political saga spanning from the Jananayak Janata Party (JJP) and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) to engagements with the Congress and BJP. Despite switching parties, the family's influence remains steadfast. Devi Lal, born in Tejakhera of Hisar, joined the freedom movement at 15, marking the beginning of a significant political journey.
His involvement in Mahatma Gandhi's 1930 movement resulted in imprisonment. In later years, as a Congress member, he endured another incarceration during the 'Quit India' movement. A distinguished career saw him as India's Deputy PM and Haryana’s CM, with his political baton passing to son Om Prakash Chautala, maintaining legacy as CM with leadership tenures from 1989 till political challenges emerged post a failed Lok Sabha election bid in 1991.
Om Prakash's Political Inheritance
Devi Lal's legacy was carried forward by Om Prakash, amidst brothers Jagdish, Pratap, and Ranjit, the latter two finding endeavors outside of direct political wins. Om Prakash thrived, albeit through tumultuous times, leading Haryana till 2005, impacted by the passing of Devi Lal in 2001.
While Conrad divided family interests, Ranjit, despite long congressional affiliations, failed to secure electoral victory. He later achieved success as an independent and briefly with the BJP, illustrating the shifting dynamics within the broader Chautala narrative.
The Scandal that Shadowed Om Prakash
The teacher recruitment scam proved a controversial chapter, where Chautala, alongside son Ajay, faced allegations of fraudulently recruiting over 3,000 teachers through coerced official complicity. The CBI's detailed investigation resulted in a conviction in 2013, leading to significant jail time albeit later reduction through government pardons, reshaping Chautala's post-release political landscape.
Family Divides but Resilient in Politics
Continuing today, the Chautala lineage operates across politico battlegrounds, divided among Ajay, leading the JJP, and Om Prakash with Abhay at INLD's helm. The family’s younger generations, like Dushyant and Digvijay, are active, resonating with the same vibrancy that underscores this enduring Haryana dynasty.
JJP's influence, highlighted by Dushyant’s Deputy CM tenure, remains significant with his sibling Digvijay equally active. Ajay’s proactive career and the broader familial network, like Abhay’s legislative leadership and his family's political engagements, paint a vivid continuation of the Chautala story.
The Diverse Faces within the Chautalas
Devi Lal's Sons:
Om Prakash, the late Pratap, Ranjit (Congress), and the late Jagdish Chautala.
Progeny of Om Prakash:
Ajay and Abhay Chautala.
Both Ajay and Abhay are proud fathers of politically active sons.
Sons of Ajay:
Dushyant and Digvijay, both entrenched in politics.
Progeny of Abhay:
Karn and Arjun, involved in political spheres.
Pratap's Sons:
Ravi and Jitendra, recognized in business circles.
Sons of Ranjit Chautala:
Gagandeep and the late Sandeep Singh, with Gagandeep in business pursuits.
Sons of Jagdish Chautala:
Aditya (BJP), Abhishek (lawyer), and Anirudh (lawyer).
