Former CM Om Prakash Chautala passed away in Gurugram Former Haryana Chief Minister and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) chief Om Prakash Chautala passed away at the age of 89. He breathed his last at his residence in Gurugram. He breathed his last at his residence in Gurugram at the age of 89. He was the chief of the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD). He last contested the 2005 election from Rori assembly constituency.
The Chautala family is originally from Hisar and this area is considered a stronghold of the Jats. The Jat community has a significant influence in Haryana politics. The Jat community constitutes about 26 to 28 percent of the population in the state and has influence in 36 assembly constituencies. Om Prakash Chautala created his own identity in the country and Haryana politics through his unique political journey and social service.
Passed 10th and 12th at the age of 87
Former CM Om Prakash Chautala passed away in Gurugram Om Prakash Chautala passed the 10th and 12th examinations with first division at the age of 87. Chautala had given the 10th examination in 2019, but could not give the English paper due to some reasons. Due to the non-availability of the result of the English subject, the Haryana Board of School Education had also withheld his 12th result. He gave the 10th English paper in August 2021, in which he scored 88% marks. Chautala passed 10th and 12th with first division at the age of 87.
Influence of Chautala family and Jat politics
Om Prakash Chautala was the son of Chaudhary Devi Lal, who has been the Deputy Prime Minister of the country. One of Devi Lal’s four sons, Om Prakash strengthened the influence of the Jat community in Haryana politics. The Jat community, which accounts for 26-28% of Haryana’s population, has its influence in 36 assemblies of the state. In 1999, Om Prakash Chautala formed the government in Haryana with the help of BJP. He remained the CM of Haryana till 2005. This is where his political journey ended.
Tenure as Chief Minister
Om Prakash Chautala was the Chief Minister of Haryana four times. His first tenure was from 1989 to 1991. In 1999, he formed the government with the support of BJP and remained the Chief Minister of Haryana till 2005. Chaudhary Devi Lal’s family remains at the center of Haryana’s politics. Members of this family have been a part of Jannayak Janata Party (JJP), Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) to Congress and BJP. Members of this family kept changing parties, but the shine and influence of the clan did not fade in the field of politics.
Born in Tejakheda village of Hisar district, Devi Lal joined the freedom struggle at the age of 15. When he joined Mahatma Gandhi’s movement in 1930, he had to go to jail. In 1938, he became a part of the Congress. In 1942, during the ‘Quit India’ movement, he had to stay in jail for about two years. Devi Lal was the Deputy Prime Minister of the country and became the Chief Minister of Haryana twice. His son Om Prakash Chautala also became the Chief Minister of Haryana. Dushyant Chautala, who comes from the fourth generation, was the Deputy CM.
Political structure of the family
At present, the Chautala family has split into two camps. At present, many grandsons and granddaughters of Devi Lal are active in many parties in Haryana politics. Om Prakash Chautala’s elder son Ajay Chautala has separated from the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and formed the Jannayak Janata Party. While the command of INLD is in the hands of Om Prakash Chautala and his younger son Abhay Chautala. Om Prakash Chautala’s two sons, Ajay Chautala and Abhay Chautala, are active in politics.
His grandsons Dushyant Chautala, Digvijay Chautala, Karan Chautala, and Arjun Chautala are also active in politics and playing their role. He was also the Leader of Opposition in the last Assembly. Ajay Chautala’s wife Naina Chautala has been an MLA twice. Sunaina Chautala, wife of Ravi Chautala, son of Om Prakash Chautala’s other brother Pratap Chautala, has also contested elections. Abhay Chautala’s son Karan Chautala is also active in politics. Aditya Chautala, son of Devi Lal’s youngest son Jagdish Chautala, also contested elections and lost.
Why was Om Prakash sent to jail
Om Prakash Chautala and his son Ajay Chautala were accused of illegally recruiting more than three thousand teachers in the state with the help of a government official through fake documents. The CBI investigated the matter and filed a chargesheet against them. In February 2013, the CBI Special Court sentenced Om Prakash and his son Ajay Chautala along with three other government officials to 10 years of imprisonment.
They remained in jail for about nine and a half years. After that, the Delhi government gave six months’ remission in addition to the regular remission of 10 years in the sentence of convicted prisoners. After which the way for Chautala to come out was cleared. While Chautala was in jail, there was a rift in his family and his grandson Dushyant Chautala separated from INLD and formed the Jannayak Janata Party.
Legacy of Chautala family
Om Prakash Chautala carried forward the political legacy of his father Chaudhary Devi Lal and made a significant contribution to the development of the state as the Chief Minister of Haryana. He worked very hard and took his politics forward.
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