INLD keen on big fight to take on Dushyant

JIND: Haryana’s once-formidable Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), which has been now reduced to a single MLA in the assembly, wants to field party and family patriarch, former chief minister Om Parkash Chautala, against his estranged grandson and deputy chief minister Dushyant Chautala in the assembly elections next year.

However, according to the legal provisions in the Constitution against politicians convicted for corruption, OP Chautala, who is 89 years old, cannot contest elections for six years after completing his sentence. Under the Representation of the People’s Act, a person convicted of any offence and sentenced to more than two years imprisonment shall be disqualified from the date of conviction and for a period of six years after his release.

He was convicted for corruption along with his elder son Ajay Chautala, now of JJP, and sentenced to 10-year imprisonment by a special CBI court in Delhi in January 2013. His sentence technically was completed in February this year and he would be free to contest election when he is 95 years old. The INLD recently moved the Election Commission to reduce or waive the six-year ban against Op Chautala, according to sources.

Worried about the party losing relevance, INLD MLA from Ellenabad and senior party leader Abhay Singh Chautala said on Tuesday that the party wanted to field his father from Uchana Kalan in the assembly polls next year.

The Uchana Kalan assembly seat is represented by Dushyant Chautala.

“However, if there are any restrictions on OP Chautala contesting election from Uchana Kalan, then a CM face from our party will be fielded from there,” said Abhay, fuelling speculation that he might contest from Uchana Kalan.

“Uchana Kalan has been looted by former Union minister Birender Singh. Then, Dushyant focused on loot and corruption but both would be out in the next election as INLD will field a strong candidate. Dushyant Chautala deceived people and split the family due to the fear of enforcement directorate (ED). The Modi-led government is hatching conspiracies against regional parties as the NCP too was divided forcibly,” he added.

The INLD also kicked off its election campaign for 2024 after a key meeting on Tuesday. After the meeting, Abhay said that his party would shut down Parivar Pahchan Patra (PPP), property ID and Haryana Kaushal Rozgar Nigam schemes if voted to power in 2024. “Moreover, permanent jobs for youth, better education and health system for every section of society, and Rs 7,500 old age pension would be ensured,” he added.

The INLD will organise a Samman Divas rally to mark the birth anniversary of former deputy PM Devi Lal on September 25 and will invite leaders of all opposition parties. “If the opposition parties don’t come together on one platform, they would face situations like the INLD and NCP,” he claimed.


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