huge-personal-loss-sukhbir-on-chautala-s-demise

Tributes for Chautala poured in from across the political spectrum, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing anguish at his passing and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal describing it as a "huge personal loss".

 

Huge personal loss to me, says Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Sukhbir Singh Badal on the demise of Om Prakash Chautala. The Chautalas and the Badals, two prominent political families in Haryana and Punjab respectively, have long-standing ties.

 

INLD president and five-time Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala died in Gurugram on Friday at the age of 89.

 

PM, President mourn: 

 

Tributes for Chautala poured in from across the political spectrum, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressing anguish at his passing. 

 

"The news of the demise of former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala is sad. In his decades-long public life, he played an important role in Haryana politics. I offer my condolences to his family and supporters," the official X handle of the President's Office quoted President Droupadi Murmu as saying.

 

Modi said on X, "He (Chautala) was active in the state politics for many years and strove constantly to advance the work of Devi Lal." Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini termed the INLD supremo's passing "extremely sad".

 

"My humble tribute to him. He served the state and society throughout his life. This is an irreparable loss for the politics of the country and Haryana state," he said on X.

 

Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar will attend Chautala's last rites. Dhankhar said he had had cordial relations with the Chautala family for decades.

 

"As a visionary politician, he always gave top priority to rural development and agricultural prosperity. His unforgettable contribution to the overall development of Haryana and strengthening Indian democracy will always remain a source of inspiration," a post on X from the Vice-President's Office quoted him as saying.

 

Former Haryana chief minister and senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda recalled that he was the opposition leader when Chautala was chief minister.

 

Chautalas-Badals bond:

 

Five-time Punjab chief minister late Parkash Singh Badal, who died last year, was a close friend of former deputy prime minister Chaudhary Devi Lal, popularly known as "Tau" Devi Lal.

 

The bond between the two families grew stronger after INLD founder Devi Lal's death in 2001. Parkash Singh Badal maintained close ties with Om Prakash Chautala, his sons Ajay Chautala and Abhay Chautala, and their families.

 

Following the death of Om Prakash Chautala, Sukhbir Badal said, "Deeply saddened by the passing away of veteran leader and former Haryana CM Shri Om Prakash Chautala ji. All his life, he championed the cause of farmers and the poor." He said the passing away of Chautala, at a time when farmers are engaged in a fight for justice and survival, is a huge loss to society in general and farmers and downtrodden people in particular.

 

Will miss him: Sukhbir

 

"His passing away is also a huge personal loss to me and my family. I will always miss his warm and guiding hand. I share the deep sense of loss that common people and his family must be passing through at this hour," the SAD leader said.

 

Over the years, the Badals and the Chautalas have stood behind each other in times of joy and grief. They attend ceremonies and mournings in each other's families.

 

After the INLD split and the Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) was floated by Chautala's son Ajay Singh and grandson Dushyant in 2018, former chief minister Badal made an emotional appeal to unite.

 

Following the death of Devi Lal in 2001, Parkash Singh Badal installed a lifesize statue of the former deputy prime minister in the village of Killianwali on the Punjab-Haryana border.

 

In December 2023, Dushyant Chautala, the then Haryana deputy chief minister, installed Badal's lifesize statue alongside that of Devi Lal and had then said Badal "symbolises the brotherhood between Haryana and Punjab".

 

Akali stalwart and five-time Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal died in April 2023.

 

Sukhbir Badal in May had accompanied Abhay Chautala when the latter filed nomination papers from the Kurukshetra seat during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Abhay had unsuccessfully contested the seat.

 

Sukhbir had then said the INLD and the SAD were not only political allies but they also represented the "sanjh" (bond) between the people of Punjab and Haryana.

 

He is survived by two sons and three daughters. His wife Sneh Lata passed away over five years ago.

 

An Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) spokesperson said Chautala had hiccups in the morning and collapsed in his house. He was rushed to a hospital, where he died. 

 

The eldest son of former deputy prime minister Devi Lal, the five-time chief minister headed the INLD, founded by his father. 

 

Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah express grief:

 

National Conference supremo Farooq Abdullah on Friday expressed grief at the passing of former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala, recalling his immense contributions to public service and pivotal role in Indian politics.

 

Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also expressed his grief at Chautala's death, the National Conference said in a post on X.

 

"Recalling his immense contributions to public service and his pivotal role in Indian politics, they conveyed their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, the Indian National Lok Dal, and his admirers. They prayed for peace to the departed soul and strength to the family during this difficult time," the party said.